Shehre Khamoshan founder seeks donations to run model graveyards

International public policy and gender reforms specialist Salman Sufi has appealed to the masses to donate for the well-being of hundreds of Punjab Shehre Khamoshan Authority (PSKA) staffers, working unpaid for months.

Lahore’s Shehre Khamoshan Model Graveyard, an initiative of chief minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit (SRU), contains all burial and funeral-related services required by families facing the loss of a loved one.

These include hearse service, janazgah, ghusal and mortuary services, free of cost.

While the project was considered a milestone achieved in facilitating the masses as it aimed to establish cemeteries and crematoriums to facilitate all citizens irrespective of any religious, socio-economic or caste-wise distinctions, it continues to face an uncertain future as its employees remain unpaid amid “lack of funds”.

Continuing to highlight PKSA employees’ ordeal over the past few months, ex-SRU director general (DG) and founder of the project, Salman Sufi, has now appealed for donations for the staff.

Tweeting his video message, Sufi wrote:

My appeal to all friends and foes.

Death is inevitable for all of us.
The staff of #ShehreKhamoshan graveyards will be there to help our families when we pass away.

Let's help them today as they struggle to make ends meet due to non payment of salaries. #ShehreKhamoshan pic.twitter.com/zJjqB6Ikki

— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) August 9, 2019

In an earlier tweet, he had stated:

Urgent appeal: Friends as you are aware employees of #ShehreKhamoshan graveyards are without salary since months. As govt isnt stepping in, We are collecting donations so they can spend #Eid. Plz donate whatever you can in following account. 50267900213003
Bank: HBL
Shahzeb Naeem pic.twitter.com/1pMuK6vEsR

— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) August 9, 2019

“The government is not stepping in to solve the issue, therefore we are [now] collecting donations from people,” he tweeted.