Rawalpindi launches free burial and charity food service

RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak on Friday inaugurated the Syeda Fatima Zahra (RA) Free Burial Service and Charity Food Centre near Liaquat Bagh, in an initiative aimed at supporting low-income families with burial arrangements and daily meals.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Pakistan Sweet Home Chairman Zamrud Khan, PML-N MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Usman Shaukat, High Court Bar President Saeed Yousaf and members of civil society.

Speaking at the event, Ms Aurangzeb said the project would help poor and deserving families avoid financial hardship at the time of a burial by providing a grave, ambulance and burial-related expenses free of charge. She described the initiative as a practical example of public service, humanitarian work and social welfare, saying it would particularly benefit families in need. She also said that caring for vulnerable and underprivileged people was a shared social responsibility.

Mr Khattak said the facility had been established under the public welfare vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to provide support services to residents. He said available land for graveyards in Rawalpindi was shrinking quickly and added that a special committee had been formed to work on a lasting solution to the issue. According to him, the committee will operate under the supervision of the assistant commissioner (City).

The commissioner also said the welfare centre had been set up in a short period of time and called its establishment commendable. He added that the model would later be expanded to other districts and cities so that a larger number of people could benefit from the service.

Addressing the ceremony, Zamrud Khan said the welfare initiative formed part of a broader chain of service to the public. He said that over the past three years, 550 graves had been arranged in Rakh Dhamial. He also said the dastarkhwan service had been launched from Chakri, where between 700 and 800 people are being provided free meals every day.