Rest in peace: 4 model cemeteries planned for City
The project will later be replicated in other cities, similar facilities will be set up for minorities.
PHOTO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_funeral
LAHORE:
The provincial government has decided to establish model cemeteries across the province with on-site facilities for funeral prayers and a toll-free helpline for burial assistance, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Special Monitoring Unit senior member Salman Sufi said that in the first phase four model cemeteries would be established in Lahore. He said land had been acquired for the purpose in Kahna area on Ferozpur Road. An implementation committee formed to oversee the establishment of model cemeteries was selecting sites for the three other cemeteries.
Other responsibilities of the committee include selection of vendors for provision of the services like transportation, temporary storage and bathing of the corpse and the recruitment and training of the staff.
The project would be replicated in other cities of the province in the next phase.
Sufi said once model cemeteries were established across the province for Muslims, the committee would identify sites for establishment of similar facilities for minority communities.
He said the design for the model cemetery had been developed with the assistance of graveyard design experts and standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been finalised.
He said a hearse service available at the cemeteries for transportation of the corpse would be linked to the city traffic police to ensure that there were no traffic jams on roads falling en route.
Other facilities available at the cemeteries were designated space for bathing of the corpse, a section for funeral prayer, mortuary for temporary storage of bodies, a waiting hall with sitting arrangement and a shuttle service for movement within the cemetery. There would be walking paths throughout the cemetery to make the graves easily accessible on foot.
Sufi said the SOPs allowed families to reserve place in the cemetery.
He said the management of cemeteries would be outsourced to companies selected in a transparent bidding process.
He said services of psychologists would be hired for the training of the cemetery staff.
He said strict landscaping standards would be followed at the cemeteries. Raised structures would not be allowed. He said graves would be kept to the ground-level with only tombstones erected to distinguish them.
Sufi said special care would be taken to ensure adequate plantation at the cemeteries. He said a drip irrigation system would be installed at each site to ensure water conservation.
Seeking assistance
On Friday, the implementation committee held a meeting with several philanthropists from across the city to seek their assistance with the project.
The meeting was chaired by Advisor to the Chief Minister Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan. The district coordination officer, assistant commissioners and executive district officers and SMU members were present.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2015.
The provincial government has decided to establish model cemeteries across the province with on-site facilities for funeral prayers and a toll-free helpline for burial assistance, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Special Monitoring Unit senior member Salman Sufi said that in the first phase four model cemeteries would be established in Lahore. He said land had been acquired for the purpose in Kahna area on Ferozpur Road. An implementation committee formed to oversee the establishment of model cemeteries was selecting sites for the three other cemeteries.
Other responsibilities of the committee include selection of vendors for provision of the services like transportation, temporary storage and bathing of the corpse and the recruitment and training of the staff.
The project would be replicated in other cities of the province in the next phase.
Sufi said once model cemeteries were established across the province for Muslims, the committee would identify sites for establishment of similar facilities for minority communities.
He said the design for the model cemetery had been developed with the assistance of graveyard design experts and standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been finalised.
He said a hearse service available at the cemeteries for transportation of the corpse would be linked to the city traffic police to ensure that there were no traffic jams on roads falling en route.
Other facilities available at the cemeteries were designated space for bathing of the corpse, a section for funeral prayer, mortuary for temporary storage of bodies, a waiting hall with sitting arrangement and a shuttle service for movement within the cemetery. There would be walking paths throughout the cemetery to make the graves easily accessible on foot.
Sufi said the SOPs allowed families to reserve place in the cemetery.
He said the management of cemeteries would be outsourced to companies selected in a transparent bidding process.
He said services of psychologists would be hired for the training of the cemetery staff.
He said strict landscaping standards would be followed at the cemeteries. Raised structures would not be allowed. He said graves would be kept to the ground-level with only tombstones erected to distinguish them.
Sufi said special care would be taken to ensure adequate plantation at the cemeteries. He said a drip irrigation system would be installed at each site to ensure water conservation.
Seeking assistance
On Friday, the implementation committee held a meeting with several philanthropists from across the city to seek their assistance with the project.
The meeting was chaired by Advisor to the Chief Minister Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan. The district coordination officer, assistant commissioners and executive district officers and SMU members were present.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2015.