KARACHI, July 28: It is not worth missing. Quaid-i-Azam House, the residence of his sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, is all new and serene — turned into a House museum with a world of eye-catching fun.

In the midst of the city, it offers a soothing sight after its renovation.

Quaid-i-Azam House has a great importance in the country’s history as Miss Jinnah lived here for 16 years — Pakistan’s formative period.

It was the first place in Karachi where she preferred to live after the death of the Founder of the Nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. She moved into this residence on Sept 13, 1948 from the Governor-General House (then also known as GG House).

She continued her political activities from this House following the Quaid-i-Azam’s death. This new abode had become the main political centre of the joint opposition of that time.

The House became a symbol of democracy during the elections of 1965 and drew attention across the world.

The Quaid-i-Azam House was recently renamed by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as Fatima Jinnah House.

The renaming coincides with the present government’s declaration to observe the year 2003 as the ‘Year of Fatima Jinnah’. The renaming of the House is still to be officially notified.

The government had purchased this house, spread over 10,241 square yards, from the trustee of the Quaid-i-Azam Trust for Rs5.107 million.

The restoration and renovation work on the property was first undertaken on June 14, 1984 and the palatial house came to be known as Quaid-i-Azam House which was declared open to public on Nov 25, 1993.

A former governor of Sindh, Hakim Mohammed Said, inaugurated the Quid-i-Azam House Museum (QAHM) as a museum for public.

Describing the history of the museum, the director of Archaeology Department, Qasim Ali Qasim said: “The House is believed to have been built by the first mayor of Karachi in British era, Sir Sohrab Katrak, as his personal residence.”

It was purchased by the Quaid-i-Azam in 1943 for Rs115,000 from Sir Katrak. Information gathered also indicates that this property was owned by Ramchand Hansraj Kachi Lohana in 1922 and was also acquired on rent by British army after its sale to the Quaid-i-Azam. Various senior British army officers also resided here.

The architecture of this museum is a mix of British colonial and Rajesthani designing of Jaisalmir, interspersed with traces of Mughal architecture.

The main structural foundation is of British origin coupled with curves of Rajesthani style for entrances. It is finished with Mughal balconies. A touch of indigenous Indian designing has been combined in giving the balconies a tulip shape.

It comprises six rooms — three on ground floor and as many on first floor — including two bed rooms, two drawing rooms, one dinning room and one study room.

The roof of the house is made of red Manglore tiles which are a make of 1865. The date could be seen on the tiles. Each tile is inter-locked with two other tiles and all of them are lodged together.

The House is centrally airconditioned. Smoke ejector, and burglar alarm are also installed inside.—APP