Rare Jinnah photos on display in Islamabad

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi inaugurated the exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

ISLAMABAD: A rare collection of photographs documenting the life, leadership and official engagements of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah has gone on display in Islamabad, offering visitors a glimpse into Pakistan’s formative years.

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi inaugurated the exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The exhibition, titled “Quaid-e-Azam: The First Governor-General of Pakistan 1947–1948,” is part of events commemorating Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day.

PNCA Director General Muhammad Ayoub Jamali also attended the inauguration ceremony.

The collection features photographs taken by Ziauddin Barni, who served as Jinnah’s official photographer and accompanied him during numerous official engagements. The images document important moments from Jinnah’s tenure as Pakistan’s first Governor-General, while also portraying his interactions, leadership and quieter moments of reflection.

Some of the most significant photographs capture Jinnah’s final days and the funeral ceremonies held following his death in September 1948, preserving a powerful visual record of a pivotal period in the country’s history.

The exhibition was originally presented in Karachi in 2023 at the Mohatta Palace Museum in collaboration with Dawn Media. It was curated by Abdul Hamid Akhund and Hameed Haroon, while the Islamabad edition has been curated by Mariam Ahmed.

The photographs provide more than a historical record, offering a rare human perspective on Pakistan’s founder and the challenges and responsibilities surrounding the country’s early years.