ISLAMABAD — A British World War I memorial in Islamabad has been demolished by developers, despite objections from heritage authorities, raising concerns over the loss of a historic site that commemorated local soldiers and formed part of the capital’s cultural landscape.

Officials from the Department of Archaeology and Museums confirmed on Tuesday that the memorial, located on Kuri Road near Rehara village, had been dismantled after the mound on which it stood was flattened to make way for a commercial development linked to a private housing scheme. Photographs shared by the department showed broken stone blocks scattered across newly levelled ground.

The monument, erected by the British Empire after 1914, honoured soldiers from nearby villages who fought in World War I. Until last Sunday, it stood atop a mound approximately 40 feet high and had remained at the site for decades as a marker of local history.

According to officials, the Department of Archaeology and Museums had earlier blocked attempts to relocate the memorial. Six months ago, the Capital Development Authority and a private developer sought a no-objection certificate to shift the structure about 100 metres away to a proposed roundabout, arguing that the new location would improve visibility and access.

In correspondence with the archaeology department, the CDA said the roundabout could be named after the World War I memorial to preserve its identity. The proposal was rejected, with the department maintaining that relocating the monument would undermine its historical significance, which was closely tied to the surrounding villages, including Rehara.

Documents reviewed by officials show that the archaeology department has repeatedly written to CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and other civic authorities since 2020, seeking records related to the memorial so it could be formally listed as a protected historical site. Similar requests were made regarding other nearby heritage locations, including a Mughal-era mosque in Rehara.

A senior official from the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture said the lack of response from civic authorities complicated efforts to secure protection for the site. The official added that the demolition caused embarrassment for the government, particularly as representatives from UNESCO were visiting Pakistan at the time the incident came to light.

The matter has been reported to the federal minister for national heritage and culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, for further action. Attempts to obtain a comment from the minister were unsuccessful.

Via Dawn