ISLAMABAD —
Pakistan’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman on Tuesday offered an independent inquiry into the ongoing tree-cutting drive in Islamabad, telling lawmakers that the removals were carried out on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, amid growing public and political concern over environmental impacts.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, chaired by former climate minister Sherry Rehman, who directed the Ministry of Climate Change to constitute a new review committee. She stressed that civil society representatives and environmental experts should be included alongside officials from the district administration and the CDA.
The committee examined reports of tree felling in several areas of the capital, including Shakarparian, Park Road and F-9 Park. Rehman said the controversy had gained prominence through media coverage, noting that authorities often respond only after public pressure. She underlined the need to balance development needs with environmental protection in a city long regarded as Pakistan’s greenest.
Briefing the committee, the Minister of State for Health said paper mulberry trees — planted extensively in Islamabad between 1960 and 1980 — were a major cause of pollen allergies and other health issues. He said the government planned to remove around 80,000 such trees, adding that 29,115 had already been cut and about 40,000 indigenous trees planted as replacements.
The CDA chairman told senators that no new cricket ground was being built in F-9 Park and reiterated the authority’s policy of planting three trees for every one removed. He said 34 trees felled near the Zero Point Metro Depot were compensated with 300 new plantations, while more than 4,000 trees had been planted at the F-8 Interchange.
Civil society representatives attending the meeting voiced strong reservations, particularly over large-scale cutting of paper mulberry trees in F-9 Park. They alleged technical errors by the CDA and argued that trees should not be removed in bulk without comprehensive environmental assessments.
In response, the committee chair directed the CDA to consult civil society members and forestry experts more closely and to submit a complete list of all parks in Islamabad at the next meeting.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the committee that green spaces in Islamabad were not being converted into built-up areas, claiming the city’s green cover had increased over the past two years. He said several development projects were redesigned to save trees and that all actions had been taken in line with existing policies.
The committee is expected to revisit the matter after the new review committee presents its findings.
