Islamabad’s Green Dream Faces a Harsh Reality
News Desk
Islamabad: Islamabad, once celebrated for its lush greenery and carefully planned open spaces, is facing growing criticism over widespread tree cutting linked to infrastructure development, prompting public protests and legal action.
Built in the 1960s as a model green city, Pakistan’s capital was designed with wide avenues, parks and tree-lined residential sectors. Many residents now fear that vision is steadily being eroded as roads, bridges and monuments replace green spaces.
Earlier this year, Islamabad resident Muhammad Naveed filed a court case against the authorities, alleging “large-scale tree cutting” for development projects. He accused officials of felling numerous mature trees and leaving large areas of land barren.
Environmental groups have echoed those concerns. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says major infrastructure projects, including road construction and monuments, are driving the widespread removal of trees and natural vegetation across the city.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/na-committee-slams-massive-tree-cutting-in-islamabad/
Data from Global Forest Watch shows that between 2001 and 2024, Islamabad lost around 14 hectares of tree cover, roughly equivalent to 20 football pitches. The figures do not include areas where trees may have been replanted during the same period.
For long-time residents like Kamran Abbasi, a local trader who has lived in Islamabad since the 1980s, the change is unmistakable. “They are cutting trees everywhere,” he told AFP. “It is not the same anymore. Trees are life. Thousands are cut to build one bridge.”
Air quality concerns
The loss of tree cover comes as air pollution in the capital continues to worsen. Islamabad recorded no “good” air quality days last month, according to monitoring group IQAir, with all but two days rated “unhealthy” or “very unhealthy”.
Environmental experts warn that declining greenery could further exacerbate pollution levels. “Forests act as powerful natural filters, cleaning the air and water and reducing the overall impact of pollution,” Muhammad Ibrahim, director of WWF-Pakistan’s forest programme, told AFP.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/islamabad-removes-allergy-causing-paper-mulberry-trees/
Authorities, however, say not all tree removal is linked to construction. Some trees are being cut to address seasonal pollen allergies, which peak during spring and affect thousands of residents each year.
Officials say the problem is largely caused by paper mulberry trees, which were planted extensively during Islamabad’s early development.
“The main reason is pollen allergy,” said Abdul Razzaq, an official at the Capital Development Authority (CDA). “People suffer from chest infections, asthma and severe allergic reactions. I do too.”
According to a recent WWF report, the government plans to remove around 29,000 pollen-producing trees and plants.
Debate over solutions
Critics argue that pollen allergies are being used as a justification for broader and less transparent tree-cutting linked to development projects.
Environmentalists say the solution lies not in indiscriminate removal, but in careful urban planning, replacing allergenic species with suitable alternatives and ensuring greater public oversight of infrastructure projects.
As Islamabad expands, residents and experts warn that preserving what remains of the city’s green cover will be critical to maintaining livability in the capital. Input from AFP.
