Sohan Cemetery Falls Within Proposed Road Route
The Capital Development Authority has informed residents that nearly 200 graves in Sohan Cemetery may be affected by a new road project in Islamabad.
The authority is constructing a link road between Sohan and Gulberg Green. The proposed road will run parallel to the Islamabad Expressway.
According to the CDA, a section of the planned route passes through part of Sohan Cemetery. The graves located within the project area must therefore be relocated before construction can be completed.
Officials have started contacting local residents and families whose relatives are buried in the affected section.
The authority has urged families to visit the cemetery and identify the graves of their relatives as soon as possible. Officials said early identification would help prevent delays and allow the relocation process to proceed in an organised manner.
Graves Being Shifted After Family Consent
The CDA said it has already started relocating graves identified by the legal heirs of the deceased.
Officials stated that no identified grave is being shifted without receiving consent from the concerned family. The authority is coordinating with relatives before beginning the relocation process.
Once approval is received, the remains are transferred to a newly prepared grave at another location.
The CDA said it is trying to carry out the process with respect and care. Officials are also working to ensure that religious and legal requirements are followed during the relocation.
The authority has advised affected families to cooperate with its teams and provide accurate information about the graves.
Families may also be required to submit identification or other documents confirming their relationship with the deceased.
Timely cooperation is expected to help authorities complete the work before construction activity reaches the cemetery section.
CDA Offers Ambulances and New Grave Preparation
The CDA is providing logistical assistance to families affected by the project.
The support includes ambulance services for transporting remains. The authority is also arranging the digging and preparation of new graves.
Other necessary facilities will be provided during the transfer and reburial process, according to officials.
The CDA said these services are intended to reduce the financial and practical burden on families.
However, the authority has not announced a detailed policy or standard operating procedure for cases in which families refuse to allow the relocation of graves.
Officials said such cases would be handled under relevant legal requirements and directions issued by senior authorities.
The absence of a publicly announced procedure has raised questions about how unidentified graves or disputed cases will be managed.
It also remains unclear where all the affected graves will be relocated and whether families will receive permanent records of the new burial locations.
The road project is expected to improve connectivity between Sohan and Gulberg Green. It may also reduce traffic pressure on nearby roads and provide another route for commuters travelling close to the Islamabad Expressway.
However, the relocation of graves remains a sensitive issue. Residents have been asked to remain in contact with the CDA and identify affected graves before further construction begins.
