49 years ago today, on October 12, 1976 (August 19, 1976, the groundbreaking ceremony for the world's largest mosque was held in the capital of Pakistan. On October 12, 1976, the groundbreaking ceremony for the world's largest mosque was held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Since Saudi Arabia provided funding for the construction of the mosque, the unveiling ceremony was presided over by King Khalid of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Shito accompanied the king to the ceremony and presented Khalid with a silver model of the mosque. When completed, the mosque can accommodate approximately 33000 worshippers.