The death of a loved one makes the hours that follow a miserable fog. But Islam calls upon us to inter the dead in a hurry, almost always on the same day. Consequently, lots of families are forced to contend with forms, fees and strange grave yard personnel. This is a guide to the burial procedure in Pakistan with Karachi being the model. You will get to know what documents you will require and what will occur at the graveyard. We also exchange tips on not overcharging and locating the grave afterwards. Bookmark this page, and send it to anybody who might require it.
Step 1: Confirm the Death and take the Medical Certificate
The initial document that you require is a medical certificate that documents the death. In case of hospital death of the person, this death slip is normally issued by the hospital. Ensure that the name, name of father and CNIC number is typed properly. But to have a death at home, call your family doctor or closest hospital. A physician is required to look at the body and note down the cause of death. Have a few copies of photocopies, as the graveyard and union council will also demand copies. Retain the original CNIC of the deceased in another envelope also. Additionally, record the time of death, as a number of forms will require.
Step 2: Natural or Unnatural Death and When Police Get Involved
The majority of illness or old age related deaths are natural and do not require police. But accidents, violence, suicide or unknown causes are classified as unnatural deaths in Pakistan. In such cases, police start proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. The body normally gets to a medico-legal unit of a big government hospital or a government house. Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi is one such centre that deals with many medico-legal cases. A surgeon of the police is allowed to inspect the corpse and suggest a postmortem in case of necessity. A magistrate may order an autopsy against the will of the family. Be patient, and be careful of all police papers, in the union council. Request the investigating police officer to inform you what papers you need to be collected at the police station.
Step 3: Choose the Graveyard and Book the Grave
Then determine the location where the burial will occur preferably close to other family members. Karachi has approximately 220 graveyards with approximately 192 formally allocated. Nevertheless, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) only operates a handful of dozen. The remainder are DHA, cantonments, community trusts and private welfare groups. A number of older KMC graveyards have become full and are closed. Dawn also reported closures in Paposh Nagar, Yaseenabad, Model Colony and the Society graveyard. Therefore, make a call to the graveyard office first and ensure that there is space prior to the commencement of the janazah. Inquire about the booking time of the graveyard requiring the CNIC copy of the deceased.
The most misunderstood aspect of the burial process in Pakistan is the fee. In January 2025, KMC revealed a serious rate of Rs14,300 at its cemeteries. At that point, the mayor had banners with this rate displayed at registered KMC graveyards. A subsequent report by the Dawn pegged the KMC grave and burial fee at Rs9,300. In the meantime, a grave may cost a lot more in a private or community graveyard.
Step 4: Ghusl, Kafan, and Funeral Arrangements
The body is washed, kafan is put over it and they prepare for prayer. Ghusl can be done at home by close relatives provided they know how to do it. Instead, Karachi has a large number of mosques that have ghusl room and volunteers who are trained. Ambulances and ghusl assistance is also provided by welfare organizations such as Edhi, Chhipa and Saylani. Some of them provide cold storage for relatives travelling from other cities. Meanwhile, request one trusted relative to make calls, food, and visitors at home. Food is usually sent by neighbours, and is a beautiful Sunnah of keeping families in grief on the move.
Step 5: Janazah Prayer and Burial at the Graveyard
The janazah prayer is conducted in a mosque. It may also be conducted on ground or graveyard. In addition, inform the time using family WhatsApp groups and the mosque speaker. The body is then buried in the graveyard after the prayer. The gorkan or gravedigger will prepare the grave before the family arrives there. According to KMC regulations, registered personnel are the only ones to work within its official graveyards. Then, with its face on Qibla, the body is lowered by close relatives. Each one puts three handfuls of soil, and the grave is filled and moulded. Lastly, the family recites a brief dua in favour of the forgiveness of the deceased.
Step 6: Collect the Graveyard Slip and Save the Grave Location
Request the grave yard office to give you the burial slip or receipt when you exit. The plot or serial number can be found on this slip, be careful with it. This slip will be required later by the union council when it comes to the death certificate. Also, have a clear picture of the grave prior to the installation of the headstone. New graves are similar and there are many families who are unable to locate the grave later. This problem can thus be solved by saving the exact GPS location on burial day. Grave Finder allows you to pin the location, add pictures and share it immediately. In a matter of seconds your relatives in other countries can view the actual grave.
Step 7: Register the Death at the Union Council and NADRA
All the deaths must be registered with the local union council at the place of death. It is recommended by many guides to register within 60 days in order to save on additional paper work and affidavits. In addition, the Sindh government has recently done away with the fees on issuing death certificates to the citizens. It includes the service fees of NADRA as well, such that the certificate is free in Karachi. You can submit it at the office of the union council or in its online portal. Then, the steps are the online form, scanned documents and verification of fingerprints. Then, upon approval, you get an official computerised death certificate through the NADRA system. Don’t forget to request a couple of attested copies, as banks and NADRA usually have one.
Documents Checklist for Families in Karachi
These are the documents required in burying in Pakistan.
- Death slip or a medical certificate signed by a qualified doctor in a hospital.
- Original CNIC of the deceased, and a couple of clear photocopies to the offices.
- CNICs of the applicant and legal heirs of the deceased.
- The grave yard burial slip or receipt with plot or serial number.
- Family Registration Certificate or any other acceptable evidence of relation.
- Police papers and a postmortem report, which are only necessary in unnatural death cases.
Also, have a folder of all the papers and scan it with your phone.
Step 8: After the Burial: CNIC, Bank, and Inheritance Matters
After obtaining the death certificate, copies will be required in a number of other offices. To start with, NADRA should revoke the CNIC of the deceased to eliminate any misuse. The death certificate is required to release the accounts to legal heirs by the banks. Pension offices and employers may also ask for copies of the certificate. In case of property and savings, heirs are required to request a succession certificate. In addition, Sindh has just revised its succession law with regards to minor heirs. A family lawyer will be able to help you do these steps without additional pressure. Make a written record of all the offices that you visit and all the documents that you submit.
Save the Grave Location With Grave Finder
In a few months, new graves can turn well-known places into new ones. This is the reason why most families save the place on burial day. Grave Finder keeps the GPS pin, name, date of death and two photos. Subsequently, tap Locate, and Google Maps can provide walking directions directly to the grave. Send the link to family members in foreign countries, so they can locate the grave as well. No further visit can commence with a search between rows, but with prayer.
About Grave Finder
Grave Finder is a free Pakistani application to save, find and share graves. In addition, it serves families in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities across the nation. The families have the option of searching with the name of the person or a special Grave Serial Number. Moreover, the app does not request any date of birth. Users are able to report on inaccurate information and the admin team looks into each report. In addition, you can contact the support team at support@gravefinder.pk to get instant assistance. It has a basic motto Find, Remember, Respect and all features are based on this concept.
Meet the Developer: Dabeer Hasan
Dabeer Hasan is a Pakistani software engineer and founder of Grave Finder. Both his parents passed away and they are buried in Wadi-e-Hussain Graveyard, Karachi. Then, six months later, he could not locate their graves. The whole area had been altered with new rows and even the graves had serial numbers. Therefore, it was that time that made him consider other families that have to deal with the same struggle. He brought the idea to his WebXSquare company and financed it himself.
FAQs
What documents are needed for burial in Karachi?
You require the medical death certificate, copy of the CNICs of the deceased and heirs. Police papers are also required in case of accidental or unnatural death.
What is the cost of a grave in Karachi?
In 2025, KMC declared an official rate of Rs14,300 in its registered cemeteries. Privately owned and community graveyards may cost a lot more, so always enquire.
Is a death certificate free in Sindh?
Yes, the Sindh government did not charge death certificate fees and subsidizes NADRA charges. You may apply at the office of your union council or the online portal.
In Pakistan, is the postmortem mandatory?
No, a postmortem is normally required in case of accidents, violent or uncertain deaths. In such instances, though, the decision is made by police and a magistrate according to the CrPC.
How can I find the grave later after the burial?
Request the burial slip, and record the plot or serial number. Then save the actual GPS position in Grave Finder to your entire family.
Conclusion
There is no checklist that can help to eliminate the pain of losing someone who loves you very much. Above all, conserve the grave site in order to start visiting it tranquilly. Download the Grave Finder on Google Play and save the grave of your loved one now. Then share the link with family, so nobody ever loses the way back.
