ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has denied permission to a housing society’s developers to move a British World War I memorial to make way for a commercial project.
According to a ministry official, the memorial cannot be relocated unless it is first legally protected. This requires the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit the relevant revenue records, which it has failed to provide despite repeated requests.
The memorial, built by the British Empire after 1914 to honor local soldiers who fought in World War I, is located on Kuri Road near Rehara village. It serves as a tribute to the sacrifices of local communities but is now under threat due to development activities planned by the CDA and a housing society.
Developers have excavated and leveled the surrounding land, leaving the monument standing on a narrow mound approximately 35 to 40 feet high, making it inaccessible. The structure has tilted and is at risk of collapsing.
Officials from the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) expressed concern upon seeing images of the memorial precariously balanced on a thin column of earth. DOAM, which is tasked with documenting and safeguarding historical sites in the capital, last contacted the CDA chairman in May last year, requesting the required revenue records to formally protect the site.
A ministry official stated that DOAM has been writing to the CDA’s revenue department since 2020 for records related to the war memorial and other heritage sites, including the nearby Mughal-era Rehara Mosque, but has received no response.
CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiyani said that developers intended to preserve the memorial more effectively. Six months ago, the CDA and the housing society sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from DOAM to relocate the memorial to a proposed roundabout about 100 meters from its original location, claiming this would improve public access and visibility.
However, DOAM rejected the proposal, arguing that the memorial was erected to honor villagers from Rehara and nearby areas who lost their lives in the war, and relocating it would undermine its historical significance.
The ministry emphasized that even if relocation were approved, the memorial must first be legally protected and included in Islamabad’s official list of heritage sites, which cannot happen without documentation from the CDA.
Recently, seven additional archaeological sites, such as Rawat Fort, Mai Qamro’s Mosque, Muqarab Khan’s Tomb, Ban Faqiran Stupa, and Shah Allahditta Cave, were added to the city’s heritage list. The ministry continues to urge the CDA to provide records so that other sites, including the British War Memorial, can also receive protection.
The Ministry of Heritage acknowledged the urgent situation and warned that without immediate action, the historically important memorial—already showing signs of long-term neglect—could be permanently lost.
