ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday laid the foundation of ‘Yadgar-i-Dastoor’ (constitutional monument) at D-Chowk on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of the approval of 1973 Constitution.

The government is going to call for the design of the monument through a general announcement. The best design of the architect will be selected for the monument which will be built before August 14 this year.

“The government intends to invite proposals from the general public and architects for the design of the monument,” said former chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, who is head of the committee looking after the golden jubilee celebrations.

Speaking to Dawn, he said the monument will be built in accordance with certain guidelines. Mr Rabbani said that through the monument the constitution’s supremacy, fundamental rights and federating units will be highlighted.

Earlier, speaking at the stone laying ceremony, Speaker Raja Raja Pervez Ashraf said that 10th April 1973 was an unforgettable day in Pakistan’s political history when the nation was blessed with the parliamentary, federal and the consensus-based constitution.

He said that prosperity and development of Pakistan was interlinked with implementation of the constitution. Mr Ashraf added: “This day is to acknowledge political maturity and sagaciousness of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto whose political wisdom blessed the nation with the 1973 constitution.”

He said that the passage of the consensus-based constitution was an ever remembering moment in political history of Pakistan. He also said the principles outlined in the constitution reflects Islamic, federal, democratic and parliamentary Pakistan and these were the same principles which were outlined by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his first address to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1948.

He also said the construction of the monument was a very important and positive step. He appreciated the tireless efforts of the former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani and his entire committee in establishing the monument.

He said the building of the constitution monument would spread awareness in the young generation. The monument would reflect the glorious history and the political elites whose hard work and political insight blessed Pakistan with the constitution.

Furthermore, postal stamps, original script of the constitution and book exhibitions in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations were also inaugurated by the speaker.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2023