Islamic Summit Minar, Monument and obelisk at Charing Cross, Mall Road in Lahore, Pakistan.
The Islamic Summit Minar is a 47 m (154 ft) tall obelisk on Mall Road in Lahore, standing directly in front of the Punjab Assembly Building. A reflecting pool sits at its base, and underground chambers house museum spaces and an auditorium.
The monument was built in 1974 to mark the second Islamic Summit Conference, which brought together representatives from thirty-eight Muslim nations. The conference took place during a period of global oil crisis, giving it considerable political weight.
The underground museum displays artworks and diplomatic gifts from Islamic nations that took part in the summit. Among the objects on view is a Quran inscribed in gold leaf, along with religious items from that period.
The minar sits along a central stretch of Mall Road and is easy to reach on foot from other city center landmarks. Access to the interior spaces can be restricted for security reasons, so it is worth checking in advance which areas are open before you visit.
The structure was designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, who was also known for his work on the Kocatepe Mosque project in Ankara. His approach brought a modern architectural language to Lahore that was uncommon in Pakistan at the time.
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