ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has claimed to have set a target of planting over 200,000 trees in the ongoing monsoon tree plantation campaign.
The CDA’s partners planted a large number of trees on Tuesday in Shakarparian area.
“The Tentative Target of Urban Plantation as well as Margalla Hills National Park is approximately 210725, besides 250000 seed balls and 1400000 of seed sowing,” said an officer of CDA.
He said Indigenous species including Chirpine, Amaltas, Willow, Kachnar, Jacranda, Pilkan, Sukhchain, Moor Pankh, Legestonia, Fiddle Wood, Bottel Bursh, Goldan Duranta, Marwa, Cassia Galaca, Gravillia, Sanatha, Puhlli, Jaman, Alobukhara, Apricot, Date palm, Alestonia, Bischofia, Quisqalus Indica, Bougainvillea, Dheraik will be planted in this season.
Nine partner companies helping in tree plantation campaign under Corporate Social Responsibility, says official
The officer said CDA’s nine partner companies were also helping in tree plantation campaign by donating 57250 plants, under Corporate Social Responsibility.
Meanwhile, CDA on Tuesday started the tree plantation campaign in Shakarparian where its Chairman Sohail Ashraf and member environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi planted saplings.
The Clean & Green Islamabad Movement organised a tree plantation drive at the Parade Ground, Islamabad.
The event was hosted by Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Chairman of the Clean and Green Islamabad Movement.
Besides the chairman CDA, the president Islamabad Chamber of Commerce Sardar Tahir, Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi and CDA’s senior officers, and representative of business community and civil society were also present.
CDA officials on the occasion claimed that 1000 pines trees were planted in Shakarparian Prade Ground area.
According to the CDA, the plantation drive is part of a broader effort to promote environmental sustainability and expand the green cover across the federal capital. Citizens, civil society representatives, and stakeholders have been invited to join hands in planting trees and contributing to a cleaner, greener, and healthier Islamabad.
The CDA said the campaign’s core message was “Let’s Plant Today for a Greener Tomorrow.” The drive underscores the CDA’s continued commitment, alongside its partners and business community, to environmental conservation and urban forestry in the capital city. The CDA requested the public to participate in the community-driven effort to enhance Islamabad’s natural landscape for future generations.
It is relevant to note here that last year CDA faced massive criticism over a tree cutting controversy in Shakarparian and some other areas. Civil society and media criticised the CDA for uprooting a large number of trees from certain areas of Shakarparian near Lok Virsa in the name of cutting paper mulberry trees.
The CDA contested the stance of civil society by stating that only paper mulberry trees were chopped.
On the other hand, due to tree cutting, the area was looking bald until new trees were planted last year. However, this year, CDA has been focusing on the tree plantation campaign.
Recently, the CDA chairman and the member environment also attended a tree plantation ceremony at Ankara Park.
Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026
