KARACHI: An 80-foot-long magnificent chandelier that has been one of the major attractions at the Mazar-i-Quaid for more than four decades will be replaced within a few months by another decorative light fixture being gifted by the Chinese government.

It emerged on Wednesday when seven technical members from the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design with Wan Zhihua and Tony Yang of the Chinese consulate office visited the mausoleum.

“The four-tier crystal chandelier installed in 1971 was also gifted by China. So our government thought it appropriate to take the Chinese government on board over the replacement of the light fixture,” said Mazar-i-Quaid resident engineer Mohammad Arif.

The old chandelier with bronze rods plated in gold had completed its life and was corroding, though regular cleaning and repairs of the fixture were carried out, he added.

“It’s the second visit of the Chinese team that will stay in Karachi for four days during this trip and finalise details of the fixture’s replacement that includes a three-dimensional survey,” he said.

The visits, he said, followed an agreement signed between the two governments three months back.

“The chandelier and the museum have been running on solar energy for four to five years, helping us save Rs400,000 annually on account of electricity load reduction. Besides, we have also installed lifts for special persons,” he said while pointing out measures taken by the government to improve facilities at the mausoleum.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2015

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