KARACHI: Mazar-e-Quaid (the mausoleum of founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah) is going to be illuminated with a new state of the art chandelier made of fine crystal and 8.3 kilograms of 24 karat gold.

The newly crafted chandelier, gift by the Chinese government, will be installed tomorrow (December 17), in a ceremony.

President Mamnoon Hussain will inaugurate the newly crafted chandelier, which will replace the older one also gifted by China in 1970.

Adviser to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Division Irfan Siddiqui, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar and Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong will attend the ceremony wherein 40 Chinese engineers and experts will also join them.

“The efforts for replacement of the old chandelier were initiated by PM’s Adviser Irfan Siddiqui after assuming charge as head of the newly created National History and Literary Heritage Division,” said an official of the Heritage Division.

“The 23 metres long new ceiling mounted fixture weighs 1.2 ton and has decorative lights in four arrays. It has been completed at a cost of Rs 220 million. The use of 8.3 kilograms of 24 karat gold adds splendor to the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan,” he added.

Overall it took two months in dismantling of old chandelier as well as the transportation of the new one from China to Pakistan and its installation during this October and November by 13 Chinese technicians. The testing of the chandelier was completed after its installation by the Chinese technicians and a handing over document was signed on December 08 2016. The old chandelier will be installed at another location within the premises of mausoleum.