KARACHI, March 11: A lift ramp system for handicapped people to help them have easy access to the Quaid’s mausoleum was inaugurated on Saturday. The ramp leads to the lift at the lower podium of the Mazar enabling the special citizens to reach right at its upper edge.

The ramp has been constructed as per the international standards of 1:20 ratio. The special people can now reach the Mazar podium, which is around 91 feet above the sea level, without physical support by any other person. While the special people could enter the Mazar from any of its gates, the Bab-i-Iman on the M. A. Jinnah Road Extension side which is used by VVIPs, has been dedicated to them.

The lift for special persons built in a glass enclosure, has been especially designed to have two doors, one for entry and the other for exit to facilitate straight movement of a disabled person.

The proposal for the ramp was included in the original design of the mausoleum constructed in the early 1970s, through it was not built at that time. Later, the provision of this facility was included in overall plan of the Bagh Quaid-i-Azam which was executed in the year 2000. The ramp facility was again skipped.

Eventually, when Gen Musharraf visited the Mazar some time back, he ordered work on this facility.

On Saturday, federal Minister for Environment and Chairman of the Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board Maj (r) Tahir Iqbal inaugurated the Rs6 million facility at a ceremony which was addressed by Khalid Lateef Chaudhry, Abdul Hameed and others.

The speakers noted that with the opening of the ramp system, the special people, who formed around 10 per cent of the total population, could visit the Mazar the great leader easily.

They said that the elevator was exclusively for the special citizens and urged all others not to use this facility to ensure its proper functioning for a longer period.

The speakers also appreciated the gesture shown by consultants Fahim Nanji D’Souza, architect Arshad Abdullah and Structural Engineer Mushtaq Bilal, for charging a taken amount of Re1 for their services in executing the project. A cheque of Re1 was presented to Roland deSouza on the occasion.

Earlier, the federal minister distributed prizes among the winners of Quaid’s Vision Photographic Competition. The first prize of Rs20,000 was given to M. Shakir Khilji. The second and third prizes went to Suleman Zaki (Rs15,000) and Gulraiz Ghouri (Rs10,000). Three merit prizes of Rs5,000 each were given to A. Kalam Ajaz, Ajaz Hussain and Shahid Ali.

Later, Major Iqbal visited the basement of the Mazar to inspect the restoration and redecoration work around the grave of Quaid-i-Azam. He was briefed on the project by architect Zaigham Jafri and Mohammad Arif of the QMMB. He directed them to carry out some modification in the glass and other works.