Change description : 2026-05-25 13:40:00: The content has been reviewed, and no major updates were made. [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeGuidance and regulation]
Find processout whenabout alocal Britishprocedures, nationalburials dies in Pakistan, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringingreturning the person’s body to the UK.
TheFCDOcannothelp with any medical,costs. legal,In interpretationsomecases,funeraldirectorsand translationlawyers fees.mayprovideservicesonaprobonobasis.Probonoworkisdoneforfreeorforareducedcost,dependingonyourcircumstances.Thisisdecidedonacase-by-casebasis.
TheIn deathPakistan,youmust beregister registeredthe atdeathwiththe local government authority of the district where the person died. This could be a Union Council, Municipal Committee or Metropolitan Corporation.Youwillthenbegivenadeathcertificatewhichyoucanuseforalllegalmattersrelatingtothepersonwhodied.
Thenext of kin usually registers the death. AThis funeral director can also dobe thiscarried forout you.byalocalfirmoffuneraldirectors.If you appoint a local funeral director to register the death,deathonyourbehalf,you will alsoneed to give them a ‘letter of authorisation’ stating that you authorise them to act on your behalf. The funeral director will tell you what the letter needs to include.
Aare postinvolved, mortemthe ismortuary awill medicalonly examinationstorethebodywithaletterof permissionfromthe body.police.
Dealing Therewith mighta belocal onepost-mortem
Post-mortems inare Pakistanusually ifperformedwhenthe cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent. ThePost-mortems next of kin can also ask for a post mortem to be carried out.
Post mortems are carried out by forensic doctors appointed by the court. The post mortem is normally completed within 24 hours.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. SmallTheFCDOcannotstoporinterferewiththeprocess.
Duringapost-mortem,smalltissue samples andorgansmay be removed andretainedfor testing without the family’sconsent permission.ofthefamily.You will not automatically be told if this happens.
You Wholecan organsalso willask notforapost-mortemtobe removed.carriedoutasthenextofkin.
Posta mortemUnion reportsCouncil areor notother automaticallylocal givengovernment toauthorities.
The thepost-mortem nextis ofnormally kin.completedwithin24hours.
If you want a copy of the initial post-mortem report, you can make a written request to the local police station in Pakistan. A report is usually released within 2 to 3 days. However, detailed laboratory reports can take several months to be issued.
You Ifcan youask havefor a lawyerfull incopy Pakistan,of you can also ask them to contact the policereport forby acontacting copyone of the report.following:
Burying
your orlocal crematingUKcoronerifyoubringthe body inback Pakistan
The the following documents:documentsareusuallyrequiredforrepatriationofhumanremains:
a letter from the British High Commission confirming that a ‘No Objection Certificate’ is not required: Information Note: Repatriation of Remains (PDF, 708 KB, 1 page)
the
a deathcopy certificateof issuedthe bypassportofthe localperson governmentwhodied
a
the copydeath ofcertificateissuedbythe passporthospital ofor the personlocal who diedauthority
the embalming certificate
a ‘No Objection Certificate’ to repatriate the body from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
YouIn mayaddition be able to use a hospital-issued death certificate instead of a death certificate issued by the localabove, government.airlines You can only do this if there is no sign that there was criminal involvement in the death. This will need to be verified by the local police.
Airlines may also ask for additional documents, which may include:
employer’s letter if the person who died was employed locally
police certificate stating that there is no police involvement or objection to the repatriation
certificate of payment for repatriation costs
letter to the Department of Customs requesting prior release of shipment
a declaration stating that the coffin does not contain any restricted items
contact details of the person or funeral director who will be collecting the remains on arrival
If you arewant takingtohaveapost-morteminthe ashesUK withafter youthe whenbody youhas leavebeen Pakistanrepatriated, you canrequestonefromaUKcoroner.Thecoronerwill needthen to:
If you arechoose planninglocalcremationandwishto bringtake the ashes outback ofto Pakistan,theUKyourself,you willcan needusually todo getthis.Checkwithyourairlineaboutspecificrestrictionsorrequirements,forexamplewhetheryoucancarrytheashesashandluggage.
Not beall takencities toinPakistanhavecremationfacilities.Inthe UKdistrictsofKarachi,SheikhupuraandAttock,cremationcanbecarriedoutatHinduandSikhtemples.
BelongingsPersonalbelongingsfoundonthe person hadwho withdied themat whenthe theytime diedofdeathare normally given to the police if the family areis not present.
If you bringchoose the person’s body to repatriatethe UK,body, youinstruct canthe ask your local funeral director to collect all thepersonal belongings from the police or court and transportship them together.togetherwiththebody.
If theythere wereis residentan ininvestigation Pakistan,into youthe maydeath, notclothingmaybe ableretained toas takeevidence theand belongingswill asnot they may be partreturned ofuntil theirthe estate.court Getcaselegalis advice if this happens.finished.
BelongingsThe mayFCDO becannot kepthelp aswith evidence if there is an investigation into the death.cost Theyof willreturning onlypersonal bebelongings returnedto when the court case is over.family.