Polo Ground, Karachi
Polo Ground, Karachi (also known as Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam – Garden of the Great Leader) is a park located on Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road and Aiwan-e-Sadar Road in Karachi, Pakistan. This park is spread over 20 acres and has a football ground, Japanese garden, children's recreation area, and jogging tracks. A Baradari is also located there. It also has two five-star hotels nearby. The old name 'Polo Ground' easily sticks to the memory of common people of Karachi.[1][2]
History
Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam has historic significance. It was the venue of the first official march-past of the military parade in front of Pakistani political leaders after independence of Pakistan in 1947. This parade was held here and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah took the salute here as the first Governor General of Pakistan in 1947. This park was used as a polo ground before the 1970s.[1] In reality, most people in Karachi still know it by its old name Polo Ground and not by the new given name 'Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam'. A person will quickly realize this when he asks for directions to this location from someone on the street.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Akhtar Balouch (16 September 2015). "Karachi's 'Polo Ground': Digging into history". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Governor to offer Eid prayer at Old Polo Ground The Nation (newspaper), published 18 Aug 2012, Retrieved 14 August 2020