KARACHI: Protecting existing trees and green spaces and undertaking sustainable plantation are essential to save Karachi from further environmental degradation and make the city safer, healthier and more resilient to the growing impacts of climate change, say environmental experts, climate activists and senior journalists during a panel discussion held at the Karachi Press Club.
The discussion titled “Karachi Without Trees: Environmental Degradation, Climate Change and the Future of Our City,” brought together environmental experts, climate activists, senior journalists and professionals associated with conservation and climate action.
Riaz Waghan, chief conservator, forest department; Afia Salam, journalist and environmental and climate activist; Shabina Faraz, journalist and environmental activist; Yasir Husain, director, Climate Action Centre; Shahroz Siraj, environmental activist; and Murad Soni, environmental activist were panellists.
They expressed serious concern over the rapid decline of trees and green spaces in Karachi, saying that increasing temperatures, air pollution, extreme heat, unplanned urban expansion and the wider impacts of climate change have created a serious environmental challenge for the city.
Time has come to make environmental protection a fundamental part of city’s development policies, say experts
Karachi’s environmental crisis should no longer be treated as an isolated issue, they said. The city’s environment is directly linked to public health, quality of life, urban planning and the future of its rapidly growing population.
They emphasised that if Karachi is to remain a safe city, environmental protection must become a fundamental part of urban planning and development policies.
The continuous loss of trees in Karachi is not simply a matter of reducing greenery, it has wider consequences for the city’s temperature, air quality, public health and overall resilience to climate change, they added.
The experts stressed that mature trees provide important environmental benefits and cannot be replaced by newly planted saplings. Therefore, protecting the already existing trees should be given importance.
They also emphasised the urgent need for large-scale plantation throughout Karachi.
Tree plantation should be promoted along roads, around public buildings, in parks, on footpaths and in other suitable public spaces, they said.
According to the participants, Karachi requires a comprehensive and long-term urban forestry strategy.
The experts also highlighted the growing impact of climate change on Karachi and expressed concern over rising temperatures and the increasing intensity of extreme heat.
Karachi’s expanding concrete landscape, combined with the loss of trees and green spaces, is making the city increasingly vulnerable to heat, they added.
The participants stressed that environmental considerations should not be ignored when development projects and urban infrastructure are planned or approved.
It was emphasised that modern urban planning cannot focus exclusively on concrete infrastructure. Green infrastructure, trees, parks and open spaces are equally important.
They called for greater coordination between urban planners, municipal authorities, environmental experts.
They said existing parks, green belts and tree-lined areas must be protected from unnecessary conversion, encroachment and destruction.
Once an established green space or mature tree is lost, restoring the same environmental value can take many years. For this reason, conservation must remain a central part of Karachi’s development strategy, they added.
The speakers emphasised that simply planting trees will not solve Karachi’s environmental crisis. Newly planted saplings require regular watering, care, maintenance and protection, particularly during periods of extreme heat.
The participants called for every plantation initiative to include a long-term maintenance and monitoring mechanism. Authorities and organizations undertaking plantation campaigns should be responsible not only for planting trees but also for ensuring their survival.
The experts also stressed the importance of selecting tree species according to Karachi’s climatic and environmental conditions. They also called for the development of a permanent urban forestry policy for Karachi.
The participants agreed that Karachi’s environmental problems cannot be solved by one institution or department alone.
The government, local and municipal authorities, environmental experts, urban planners, civil society, media organisations, educational institutions and citizens all have an important role to play, they said.
The government and relevant authorities must develop effective policies and ensure their implementation, while environmental experts and urban planners should be involved in major development decisions.
The media, they added, play an important role in raising public awareness about climate change.
Citizens, meanwhile, should protect trees in their neighbourhoods and report any unnecessary destruction of public green spaces, they added.
They said environmental protection should become part of public discourse and educational awareness.
The participants agreed that the idea of a “Karachi Without Trees” represents a dangerous future for the city.
They said that protecting trees is protecting human health, reducing urban heat, and improving air quality.
The experts called for immediate and coordinated action to protect Karachi’s environment.
They stressed that the city needs a shift from isolated plantation drives towards a comprehensive environmental strategy based on tree protection, scientific plantation, green-space preservation, climate-resilient infrastructure and long-term monitoring.
At the conclusion of the panel discussion, participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting environmental awareness, protecting Karachi’s existing trees and green spaces and encouraging sustainable plantation across the city.
The discussion concluded with a shared resolve to work towards making Karachi a greener, healthier, safer and more sustainable city, with the participants emphasising that the future of Karachi will depend not only on the infrastructure the city builds but also on the natural environment it chooses to preserve.
The Karachi Press Club Environment Committee reiterated its commitment to keeping environmental issues at the centre of public discussion.
Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026
