Hindus, Sikhs in Pak’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Get Cremation Grounds

The provincial government has enforced Section-IV for the procurement of land in Peshawar, Nowshera and Kohat.

Image of a funeral pyre used for representational purposes.

(Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia)

Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has identified sites for the construction of a cremation ground for the Hindu and Sikh community and a graveyard for Christians.

Nearly 1.25 acre of land has been identified in Samarbagh near Northern bypass Peshawar of which 0.5 acre will be allocated for the construction of the cremation ground and 0.75 acre for the graveyard, sources in the Department of Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said.

The provincial government has enforced Section-IV for the procurement of land at the sites identified for the cremation ground and the graveyard in Peshawar, Nowshera and Kohat districts of the province.

Efforts are on to release the funds for the construction of the cremation ground and the graveyard. Provision for one ambulance to each worship places of minorities in the province is also planned, Minority MPA Ravi Kumar of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said.

The Christian community after the suicide attack on All Saint Church in Peshawar City on 22 September, 2014 brought the issue of non-availability of space for the graveyard in the notice of the provincial government and the Hindu and Sikh community also raised the same issue before the government.