KARACHI: The Sindh government keeping in view the position of already filled graveyards of the metropolitan has decided to allocate state land for the graveyards in Karachi.
The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah held here on Friday. Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ahmed Shelwani, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, DG KDA Dr Badar Jameel, Member Board of Revenue Tamizuddin Khehro and all Deputy Commissioners of Karachi attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed by the Commissioner Karachi that graveyards of Karachi are out of space and there is immediate need of new graveyards in all six districts of the city. The Metropolitan Commissioner informed the meeting that there are 203 graveyards under the administration of KMC in the city. Out of 203, there are 184 graveyards of Muslims, 12 Christian graveyards, 5 graveyards of Hindus and one each for Jews and Parses.
He further informed the meeting that the KMC is also developing new 3 graveyards in the city at Surjani sector 16, Link Road N5 at Super Highway and at Tehsar Gaddap town.
Mumtaz Ali Shah stated that the lack of space in the graveyard has emerged as a major issue. “Graveyards in Karachi are out of space and there is immediate need of new graveyards in all six districts of the city,” he added. He further stated that there is dire need of allocating more land for graveyards not only for Muslims but also for minorities in the city.
The CS directed the Member Board of Revenue to convey a meeting of Reserve Committee of Board of Revenue to reserve the available state land 300 acres in Gaddap, 200 acres in Bin Qasim and 5 acres in Korangi for the graveyards and a summary in this regard will also be moved in Sindh Cabinet for approval.
He directed Commissioner Karachi and all deputy commissioner of Karachi to identify more available state land for graveyards in districts west and east of Karachi.
The Chief Secretary Sindh also directed the Metropolitan Commissioner to submit plan/ mechanism regarding administration of new graveyards within a week.
