Karachi is the real mega city of Pakistan, but there are only a few graveyards for Muslims, some of which are officially closed or are nearing closure. The grave-diggers mostly manipulate the old graves that are rarely visited by the kith and kin of the buried persons, for whatever reasons. Moreover, the old graves are reused at exorbitant rates that are beyond the means of a poor person. What a pity. Even after the death, one is not allowed to rest in peace! The concerned authorities in the government of Sindh and the Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar are requested to include new Muslim graveyards in their top priorities of development work in Karachi. More than 2 to 3 new graveyards are needed in various parts of Karachi, to ease the burial problem of the Muslim dead bodies.

The rates of graves in new graveyards be affordable so that even the poorest could bear. The present mafia are monopolising the Muslim graveyards be discontinued. The existing managerial staff in the graveyards be replaced by some modestly educated persons to look after graveyards. No one should be allowed to reserve graves in advance or make any enclosure around a grave. Each graveyard should have visiting hours from 'Asr to Margib' time to forestall intrusion of the anti-social elements.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017