Inside the Karachi War Cemetery Placeholder By UMAR FAROOQ NOV 5, 2019 Karachi, the biggest city in Pakistan is home to Karachi War Cemetery, which holds the fallen soldiers of World War II. A serene spot in a bustling city, the cemetery still stands today thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team of gardeners, security guards and a supervisor, who ensure the survival of the cemetery. First built to house the bodies of World War II soldiers, most hailing from the United Kingdom, the cemetery numbers 642 graves. Many bodies were interred from civil or cantonment graveyards because their upkeep could not be maintained. Instead, Karachi War Cemetery provided a permanent resting place. While managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, an intergovernmental organisation of which Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, serves as commissioner, Saeed Bakhri and his team ensure real-time care and preservation of the historical site. Bakhri, who has been working at the cemetery for the past 35 years, says the graves contain people of different religions and backgrounds. “Treating them with respect is crucial to the cemetery,” he says. “The commission is not equivalent to religion, which we see as equal to everyone,” Bakhri says, adding that “All are equally managed and treated with the respect given a soldier. Brigadiers, generals and pilots are treated equally as well.” The cemetery employs three gardeners, Rameez, Naeem Khan and Sultan Palari. Rameez, 29, is from Shah Faisal Colony and has been working at the cemetery for four years. He’s happy to be working here and enjoys his job. “I want people who visit the cemetery to spread their knowledge and tell others about it,” he says. Naeem Khan, 57, hails from Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but now lives in Dalmia Mujahid Colony not far from the cemetery. For him, being a gardener is a convenient job that benefits his family. Sultan Palari, 56, who comes from Sindh, also works as a gardener and looks after the cemetery’s maintenance. Sultan Palari, 56, who comes from Sindh, also works as a gardener and looks after the cemetery’s maintenance. The cemetery employs just two security guards, one at the main gate and another at the entrance gate. Asif Ali, 32, has been working at the cemetery for almost seven years now. While originally from Mansehra, he lives in Dalmia Mujahid Colony like many of the other workers at the cemetery. “Karachi War Cemetery is best for the students who visit,” he says, “it makes you create your own way of thinking.” Sumar, 39, has only been working at the cemetery for two months. He comes from Sindh Talko and also lives in Dalmia Mujahid Colony. “The job is tough, but good,” he says with a smile. The cemetery also contains three memorials commemorating soldiers who died in Pakistan, when it was being used as a non-operational zone during World War II. The Karachi 1939- 45 War Memorial commemorates more than 25,000 servicemen of the forces of British India, and the Karachi 1914-18 Memorial remembers 568 men who died in Pakistan after sustaining injuries in World War I. As a city in a non-operational zone, Karachi housed one of the largest camp hospitals in undivided India, where soldiers were brought in for treatment. The Inside war of cemetery is like a champ from my country it was a great point to see and click the photos specially for Journalists who are doing job in this field. This story that make help to the community to awareness for war of cemetery and this location is like a Artificial stones for the heart of soldiers. The soliders are very hard worker and passionate about Her life about own country that's the reason mostly people like to the soldiers. My Father also a Solider that's why I cover that story to aware the peoples about solider work solider are very hard worker. Its That's all my story I cover in my own country my Pakistan in City of Karachi. Very Positive Vibes from the Community as expected me from the my side. My aim in future to like a Blogger in my life.I very Happy to work with this studying the Blogger like articles.