The Sindh Cabinet has approved the Sindh Manzil-e-Sukoon Authority draft bill to set up and regulate cemeteries/graveyards and crematoriums across the province.
In a statement on Sunday, the provincial government’s Law Advisor, Murtaza Wahab, said that the authority will provide funeral, crematory, and transfer services to the public.
He maintained that there are several historical and public graveyards in the entire province, where many famous saints, poets, politicians, intellectuals, freedom fighters had been resting for centuries.
“While some historical graveyards are managed by provincial departments, the local government at the UC level, communities, and societies, a majority of public graveyards are neglected,” he said, adding that many of them are running out of space.
The advisor to the chief minister revealed that out of 203 graveyards in Karachi, 184 belonged to Muslims, while 19 of them were for non-Muslims.
“90 graveyards are under the control of the local government, 106 are managed by societies such as DHA, PQA, CAA and steel mills, seven are under the control of cantonment boards and six graveyards are closed for burials due to lack of space,” Wahab said.
The advisor said that the death ratio in Pakistan is 6.89 per 1,000, which means that the estimated requirement for graves per year is 10,000 to 12,000.
He maintained that the burial rates in some graveyards are as high as Rs. 100,000, while Mayyat Gari (funeral bus) services charged up to Rs. 1700 in Karachi. However, some welfare organizations have concessional rates.
Murtaza Wahab, who is also the Karachi Administrator, said that the new authority will not only regulate the rates but will also provide hassle-free cemetery services to locals.
He lamented how land grabbers trespass occupied the land of graveyards in the provincial capital.
“First land grabbers throw garbage in them and then release sewage to submerge the graves. When they disappear after some time, the land grabbers occupy that area. Then they start to build houses and shops on that land,” Wahab said.
He said that the draft bill for The Sindh Manzil-e-Sukoon Authority has been approved by the cabinet referred it to the assembly for a vote.
