Rakh Dhamiyal Cemetery eases burden on Pindi graveyards

Residents demand basic amenities, more space for minorities

RAWALPINDI:

The Rakh Dhamiyal cemetery has proved to be a long-term solution to the issue of unavailability of burial space facing the residents of Rawalpindi.

According to an official of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), the graveyard covering an area of 1,000 Kanals, has been divided into three main sections.

"450 Kanals of land has been allocated each for Rawalpindi's Cantt boards and the city areas, whereas 100 Kanals of land has been allocated for the Christian community", he said. The Rakh Dhamiyal graveyard is one of the essential needs for the citizens, since the thickly populated city has lost any available space for the graves in all of its (small and large) 68 graveyards, nor in any of the graveyards of the Cantt areas. "We can call it a model cemetery, perhaps having proper pathways, an organised array of graves and a separate space for prayer", says Tahir Kamal a resident of Tench Bhatta.

"Burial of a single deceased person incurs a huge amount which a common man can't afford during these testing times. An amount of above Rs50,000 is required for burial by the bereaved family, besides the other expenditure when someone dies", he said adding that Rakh Dhamyal graveyard is not less than a blessing for the citizens in this regard.

The beneficiary population however also demands renovation and expansion of the existing graveyards.

Waqas Ansaar, a resident of Gulzar-e-Quaid spoke for renovation of existing graveyards.

"Absent or damaged boundary walls and irregular arrays of graves need administrative attention. Similarly, family members are not looking after the ancient graves.

The Christian community on the other hand had an equal degree of concern as their expanding population required a durable solution.

"Besides the famous 'Gora Qabristan' of Harley Street and some other Christian cemeteries of the city, the Christian community needed more space for the burials because all existing graveyards are already filled", said Winset David, a sports journalist residing in Lal Kurti.

He appreciated the allocation of 100 Kanals of land for the Christian community and termed it as an 'encouraging step towards minorities' rights.