ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has allocated three sites for graveyards in the rural areas with one reserved for the urban areas.

Islamabad has a population of around two and a half million, of which half lives in the rural areas. The CDA has a large graveyard in H-11 for the urban population, but rural area residents have to depend solely on their ancestral graveyards as there are only a few state-owned burial places.

People from other cities who have settled in densely populated rural areas of Islamabad such as Bhara Kahu, Tramri, Shahzad Town and Lehtrar Road have nowhere to bury their dead, as property prices have risen significantly and local residents are left with no land for graveyards.

Besides the rural population, people living in majority of housing societies are also facing issues of burial places. Housing societies initially earmarked graveyards in their layout plans, but later turned them into plots. As per CDA’s regulations, the societies were bound to provide land for graveyards and other amenities. However, majority of the societies have sold the land reserved for graveyards, green spaces, schools and parks.

In the latest development, CDA’s planning wing earmarked sites for graveyards and the engineering wing will carry out construction work. Sources said 60 kanals had been earmarked in Taimar and 15 kanals in Jagiot for graveyards. Moreover, 60 kanals has also been allocated for Dhoke Jilani graveyard in Bhara Kahu.

Meanwhile, sources said that 400 kanals had been allocated for a graveyard in H-16. Moreover, additional land has been earmarked for expansion of Ismaili and Christian graveyards in H-8.

“Earmarking sites for graveyards in rural areas is a good step, but CDA should also resolve issues of people living in housing societies and action should be taken against operators of societies who sold the graveyard land,” said an official, adding ensuring graveyard facility in housing societies was the responsibility of CDA.

“CDA should make all societies bound to provide land for graveyards and other amenities,” the official said.

Sources in CDA said there was a huge demand from people living in rural areas for the allocation of land for graveyards. Local MNAs had also been pleading for this facility.

CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa could not be contacted for his comments. However, an official confirmed to Dawn that three sites had been allocated for graveyards in rural areas and one in H-16. He said that after tendering process the CDA would soon start construction work over there.

Islamabad has a major graveyard in H-8, which according to CDA is full to capacity. Later, a new graveyard was set up in H-11.

Published in Dawn, August 22th, 2025