ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will relocate and preserve a First World War memorial in Islamabad as part of an approved heritage conservation plan, authorities said on Thursday, rejecting reports that the monument was being demolished.
Officials said the memorial, built to honour soldiers from the Potohar region who fought in World War I, is being carefully shifted to Roundabout 1 near the entrance of Kuri Road to ensure its long-term preservation amid ongoing development work.
Pakistani authorities described reports suggesting the monument was demolished as misleading and not reflective of the facts.
“The monument has not been demolished,” officials said. “It is being relocated for preservation in accordance with established legal frameworks, following due approvals from competent authorities and in line with internationally recognised archaeological conservation practices.”
The memorial is located within Margalla Enclave, a joint residential project of the Capital Development Authority and the Defence Housing Authority, situated in Islamabad’s Zone IV.
Originally constructed in 1914, before the creation of Pakistan, the monument stood in Rahara village along what is now Kuri Road. It commemorates soldiers from villages such as Rahara who served in the First World War.
Officials from the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture visited the site on Thursday, along with a nearby historic mosque, which authorities say dates back to the Mughal era. Preservation measures are also being undertaken for the mosque, they added.
As part of the conservation plan, a small park-like area is being developed around the relocated memorial to better safeguard the structure and enhance public access.
Historians note that before 1947, more than 50 similar memorials were built across the Potohar region to honour local soldiers who took part in the global conflict that began in 1914.
Authorities said the relocation aims to protect the monument from construction-related risks while preserving its historical and cultural significance for future generations.
