The Pakistan Monument crowns the Shakarparian hills in central Islamabad — a blossoming concrete flower with four large and three small petals, each engraved on the inside with scenes from the country's history. It was designed by Arif Masood, the winner of a national competition, and completed in 2007.
The view from the monument's terrace is one of the best in the city: Faisal Mosque and the Margalla Hills to the north, the modernist grid of the capital below, and on a clear day a line all the way to Rawalpindi. The adjacent Pakistan Monument Museum holds a permanent exhibition on the independence movement. Entry is free for Pakistanis and inexpensive for foreigners; allow an hour for the monument and another for the museum.