ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: After facing criticism for chopping down a large number of trees, the city managers have banned their further axing during uplift projects, it was learnt on Tuesday.

“I have issued orders that no tree will be cut from the site of any development project, rather they would be dug out carefully and planted somewhere else,” Chairman Capital Development Authority Tariq Mehmood Khan told Dawn.

Strict action would be taken against contractors if they are found involved in tree cutting during execution of roads, bridges and other projects. The CDA environment wing has been tasked to get machinery for transplantation of the trees. “Under a new method, the area around trees is excavated and trees are dug out,” the CDA chief said.

He was of the view that as a development-oriented organisation the CDA should protect trees. “Mass scale tree cutting could have been avoided during the last couple of years had the technology of tree transplantation been introduced,” he added.

The official said Islamabad was famous for its greenery but this distinguishing feature of the city was marred during the last few years.

According to an estimate, over 20,000 trees have been axed in the city during construction and widening of different roads and other projects including 7th Avenue, 9th Avenue, Ibn-i-Sina Road, Fazl-i-Haq Road, Khayaban-i-Iqbal and establishment of a new parade ground near Faizabad and remodelling of Rawal Lake Park.

In many developed countries, ancient trees are treated as a national heritage but in Pakistan they are mercilessly cut down in the process of ‘development'.

Environmentalists have accused the CDA of cutting down thousands of old and precious trees for construction and widening of roads.

They were of the view that some years ago Islamabad was lush green with abundance of trees on roadsides but now its natural beauty was fading due to chopping of trees.