Islamabad — The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has firmly declined permission for developers linked to a housing society to move a British-era World War I memorial on Kuri Road, insisting it cannot be shifted until properly protected under law — a process stalled by missing revenue records from the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The monument, erected after 1914 to honor local soldiers from villages like Rehara who fought and died in the Great War, now teeters precariously on a narrow 35–40 foot mound after excavators leveled the surrounding ground. Inaccessible from all sides and visibly tilted, it faces real risk of collapse amid ongoing development pressures.
The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has refused permission to the developers of a housing society to relocate a British World War I memorial for constructing a commercial area.
“The monument cannot be shifted without first being protected under the law. For that, the… pic.twitter.com/DNOuECDfvF— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) February 2, 2026
Key Highlights
- Ministry official stresses: relocation impossible without legal protection, which requires CDA to supply revenue records — requests ignored since 2020 despite repeated letters from the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM).
- DOAM last urged CDA chairman in May 2025 for documents to safeguard the site and nearby Mughal-era Rehara mosque.
- Developers and CDA proposed moving it about 100 meters to a new roundabout named after the memorial for better visibility — idea rejected as it would undermine the original purpose of commemorating local sacrifices.
- Even if relocation were considered, the memorial must first join Islamabad’s protected heritage list, joining recent additions like Rawat Fort, Mai Qamro’s Mosque, Muqarab Khan Tomb, Ban Faqiran stupa, and Shah Allahditta cave.
- Ministry fears irreversible loss of this landmark, scarred by years of neglect and now endangered by unchecked earth-moving.
- CDA spokesman claimed developers aimed to conserve it better, but no progress on documentation.
Precarious State Raises Alarm Among Heritage Officials
When shown recent photos of the memorial isolated atop a thin pillar of earth, officials in DOAM expressed shock — a stark reminder of how development often races ahead of preservation in the capital. The site, meant to stand as a quiet tribute to ordinary men who answered the call in a distant war, now symbolizes a broader struggle: protecting history amid rapid urban growth.
For residents of nearby Rehara and beyond, the memorial isn’t just stone — it’s a link to family stories of sacrifice, a piece of shared memory that relocation could erase. The ministry’s stance underscores a simple truth: true conservation starts with recognition and legal safeguards, not relocation as a quick fix.
You May Like To Read: KP Celebrates Pakistan-China Friendship, 75 Years of Partnership
What’s Next for the Kuri Road Memorial
DOAM continues pressing CDA for the overdue revenue records to enable protection and possible inclusion on the heritage list. Without swift action, the monument’s fate hangs in the balance — a call for better coordination between development bodies and heritage guardians.
This decision reflects Pakistan’s growing resolve to safeguard its layered past, ensuring symbols of valor and shared history endure for future generations rather than giving way to fleeting commercial plans.
Check out our latest video:
