KARACHI: City Administrator Laeeq Ahmed on Monday said that 60 acres land had been designated for establishing new cemeteries in the city and managing committees were also being formed to cope with the “graveyards mafia”.

This he said while reviewing a meeting of the land utilization department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation in which total 60 acres land was allocated for two new graveyards at deh Mawach Goth and deh Mauripur in district West.

Mr Ahmed said that welfare organizations were also ready to cooperate with the KMC for establishing “model cemeteries”.

He said that all measures would be taken to take back the graveyards from the clutches of grabbers and save the new burial grounds from them.

The administrator said that a big cemetery would be established on 55 acres while another would be built on five acres of land.

He said that allocated land would not be used for any other purpose and the local administration would facilitate the people in burial of their loved ones.

Mr Ahmed said that proper record would be maintained in new graveyards and encroachment would not be tolerated.

He also thanked Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for approving establishment of new cemeteries on recommendations of allotment and reservation committee.The land was allocated under Government Land Act 1912.

The administrator said that new cemeteries would meet the demand of the city, adding that the KMC had already decided to introduce one-window operation for burial and documentation of graveyards under its administrative control.

He said that managing committees comprising of Chhipa Welfare Association, Saylani Welfare Trust, JDC Welfare Organization, Alamgir Welfare, Edhi Foundation and other welfare organizations were also being formed.

The administrator said that right now currently the lands were allocated in district West but there was need of new graveyards in other districts too.

Mr Ahmed also hailed the welfare organizations for cooperating with the KMC and said that their cooperation was very important as they are well aware of the issues.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2021