ISLAMABAD: Developers have demolished the British World War I monument, disregarding heritage and culture, which add character to the beautiful federal capital.

Until last Sunday, the memorial was perched on a mound roughly 40 feet high, and land around it had been cleared and levelled to develop a commercial area for an upcoming housing society.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums (Doam) had prevented the housing authority from relocating the World War I memorial. However, on Tuesday, officials from Doam who visited the site reported that the mound had been flattened and the memorial dismantled. Pictures shared by officials showed a few blocks of the memorial lying in freshly levelled earth.

The monument was erected by the British Empire after 1914 to honour local soldiers who fought in the Great War. It stood as a symbol of recognition on Kuri Road, near Rehara village, but it is now gone.

The developers, Capital Development Authority and private housing scheme, approached Doam six months ago, requesting a no objection certificate (NOC) to relocate the memorial to a roundabout (to be built about 100 meters from its original location), ensuring visibility and accessibility.

“The roundabout may be named after the World War I memorial, thereby perpetuating its legacy and significance,” CDA stated in a letter to Doam.

However, Doam rejected the proposal, asserting that the memorial was built in honour of the men from villages like Rehara, who sacrificed their lives. Moving it would defeat its purpose.

Doam emphasised that the memorial must be protected first and added to Islamabad’s list of historical monuments, which requires the necessary documentation from the CDA.

Documents seen by Dawn revealed that Doam had been writing to CDA chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, as well as the revenue department of the civic agency, since 2020, to obtain records of the war memorial. The archaeology department had also requested records of other historical sites, including the Mughal-era Rehara mosque, located 200 metres from the memorial, so it could also be protected.

“CDA has not once responded to the numerous letters Doam has sent over the last six years,” a senior official from the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture told Dawn.

“Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi faced embarrassment, especially as representatives from Unesco were visiting Pakistan when news of the memorial’s demolition reached him. A full report of the incident has been sent to the minister for further action,” he added.

Mr Khichi did not answer his phone when contacted for comments.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026