Gora Qabaristan, Karachi
Gora Qabaristan, or Gora Cemetery, is Karachi’s only operating Christian cemetery. It lies on Shahrah-e-Faisal and covers about 20 acres.
History and looks
- The cemetery was officially consecrated in 1845 (a tombstone near the main gate shows 1843). There may have been an older Christian burial ground on Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road, now built over.
- After Pakistan’s independence in 1947, the Karachi Christian Cemeteries Board was formed (official name Maseehi Qabraistan, meaning Christian Cemetery).
- Until around 1981, the cemetery was divided into Protestant and Catholic sections. The wall separating them was removed, and the two communities merged.
Management and upkeep
- The Karachi Christian Cemetery Board manages the cemetery.
- Burial services were provided by Anthony Coutinho and Company from 1885, and today St. Joseph’s Association handles burials. The office is on Shahrah-e-Iraq near St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
- In 1995, CARE (Caring, Action, and Restoration for the Environment) formed to restore and protect the site, addressing sewage, weeds, garbage, and other problems.
- In 2006, local youths reportedly caused damage to graves by playing cricket and football there.
Notable events and people
- In May 2002, the mutilated body of American journalist Daniel Pearl was found in the cemetery.
- Between 1942 and 1945, many Polish refugees stayed in Karachi; a memorial lists 58 Poles who died there, and Air Commodore Władysław Turowicz, a prominent figure in aviation, is buried in the cemetery.
Recent developments
- In 2011, the city installed two new gates and paved pathways inside the cemetery.
- In 2014, a 43-meter cross was erected just inside the cemetery wall, funded by Christian businessman Parvez Henry Gill.
Overcrowding
- Reports say as many as 300,000 bodies have been registered for burial, but the cemetery has space for only about 3,000 graves, so many graves have been reused over time.
Today
- Gora Qabaristan remains under the Karachi Christian Cemetery Board’s care, but its condition and use continue to be a concern for many.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:21 (CET).