The construction of Pakistan’s third largest mosque has been completed at a cost of over Rs 100 crore and opened for the public here.
The “Bharia Town Jamia Masjid” is the third largest mosque in Pakistan after Badshahi Masjid and Faisal Masjid.
The main hall of the mosque can accommodate 25,000 people and it has a total capacity of 70,000.
The mosque has 21 domes and four 165 feet high minarets.
“These specifications make it the largest mosque in Pakistan in terms of covered area,” one of its architects, Nayyar Ali Dada claimed.
However, senior architect at Pakistan archeology department, Maqsood Ahmed told PTI that even in terms of covered area Bahria Town Jamia Masjid comes after Badshahi and Faisal mosques.
“It is a beautiful?addition to the country’s largest mosques,” he said.
It?has glimpses of historical Badshahi and Wazir Khan mosques. It is designed to capture the historical essence of Lahore and its surrounding cities.
“The sandstone bricks for the exterior bear the characteristic orange hue. The sands of Multan have an orange colour. Multan’s sand was used to make the exterior bricks. We found some old craftsmen, while some new ones were trained to make geometric and floral patterned tiles,” Dada?said.
The construction started three years ago and 1,000 labourers have been constantly working at the site ever since.
The main three-dimensional arched dome at a height of 150 feet is embossed with floral inlays and Mughal-era calligraphy.
Eight chandeliers, synchronized to make a mammoth chandelier, are installed at the dome’s centre.
An area on second floor has been reserved for women.
According to Malik Riaz, the mosque would become the hallmark of Lahore Bahria Town and a symbol of Pakistan across the Muslim world.
PTI