Sindh govt to allocate land for new graveyards in Karachi

Chief Secretary says lack of space in graveyards is a major concern for Muslims and minorities

KARACHI: The Sindh Government has decided to allocate state land for graveyards in Karachi, with the commissioner tasked with identifying available state land in districts East and West for the purpose.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary (CS) Mumtaz Ali Shah on Friday. The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saifur Rehman, Karachi Development Authority Director General Dr Badar Jameel, Board of Revenue Member Tamizuddin Khehro and all deputy commissioners of Karachi.

Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani told the participants that graveyards in the city were out of space and there was an immediate need to establish new graveyards in all six districts.

Dr Rehman informed the participants that there were total of 203 graveyards under the administration of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, including 184 for Muslims, 12 for Christians, five for Hindus and one each for Jews and Parsis.

He added that the KMC was developing three new graveyards in the city at Surjani sector 16, Link Road N-5 at Super Highway and in Taiser Town, Gaddap.

The CS observed that shortage of space in graveyards was a major concern not just for Muslims, but also for the minority communities living in the city. He directed the Sindh Board of Revenue member to convene a meeting and allocate 300 acres of land in Gaddap, 200 acres in Bin Qasim Town and five acres in Korangi for graveyards. The CS further said that a summary for the available land would be submitted to the Sindh Cabinet for approval.  

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2019.