Burials becoming ordeals amid inflation

Citizens struggle to meet rising cost of arranging funerals for their departed loved ones

RAWALPINDI:

Rising inflation and a considerable increase in taxes in the federal budget 2022-23 has turned burials into a costly affair.

Prices for shrouds and miscellaneous items in the open market have skyrocketed at a fast pace.

As a result, the citizens are facing tremendous difficulties with the burial and funeral arrangements of their loved ones.

The surging rates of shrouds have led a few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and some philanthropists to arrange free shroud sets to the public.

A standard shroud is being sold for Rs3,000 in the open market, while shrouds made of finer cloth cost Rs3,500. Meanwhile, the price for a complete set of camphor, joss stick and incense is touching Rs1,000.

Similarly, labour charges for the preparation of small graves are now Rs1,500 per grave, while large ones cost Rs2,000 to Rs2,200 to dig.

The cost of graveyard space in cemeteries is different for each cemetery. Space in large graveyards at a good site costs around Rs10,000 while an average grave costs around Rs5,000.

Overall, the cost of burial of the deceased has gone up from R12,000 to Rs20,000.

Rather than taking the time to grieve over the deaths of their loved ones, middle-income families are now worried about being able to afford a funeral for the departed.

Many of those belonging to the middle-income and lower-income families now have to resort to borrowing money to carry out the burial rites of their deceased relatives.

In these hard times, some compassionate and well-to-do members of society finance the funerals of those whose loved ones are hard pressed to arrange funds for the purpose.

Surprisingly, shopkeepers also provide shrouds for free when they hear that the deceased belonged to a poor family. Senior teacher Faiz Akhtar Abbasi told The Express Tribune that when his father passed away last week, finding a burial ground in a cemetery in Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh was no less than a struggle.

He somehow arranged the grave site by paying Rs9,000. However, he later learned that the prices have escalated even further.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2022.