ISLAMABAD: WWF-Pakistan on Tuesday disputed Islamabad authorities’ stance that paper mulberry trees were removed in the capital for causing allergies, stating that the action was also linked to infrastructure development.

Recently, large-scale tree removal took place in at least three locations in the federal capital, including acres of tree cover around Shakarparian. Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) has maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed as they had been causing pollen allergies. Earlier on Tuesday, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry assured lawmakers that more trees would be planted in the coming months.

“WWF-Pakistan’s field assessments indicate that vegetation loss in the capital is not limited to Paper Mulberry management alone, but is also linked to infrastructure development in multiple locations,” the environmental body said on social media.

“Beyond pollen and allergies, Islamabad’s recent tree removal reflects broader challenges in urban planning,” it added.

Says beyond pollen and allergies, Islamabad’s recent tree removal reflects broader challenges in urban planning

Social media users and even some lawmakers have alleged that, besides paper mulberry, old indigenous trees were also chopped down.

Responding to those queries in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Chaudhry explained there were “three possible reasons” for removing the trees: the presence of paper mulberry species; areas designated as brown zones in Islamabad’s Master Plan but commonly regarded as green until development began, including Embassy Road; and sectors also considered as green areas until they were built.

“I am saying with utmost responsibility that no other species was removed,” he asserted, about the claims of other species besides the paper mulberry being cut.

In its Facebook post, WWF-Pakistan noted: “Urban trees play a critical role in soil stability, climate regulation, and biodiversity support.

“Any tree removal must follow evidence-based planning, legal compliance, and clear restoration commitments to ensure long-term ecological balance,” it demanded.

The environmental organisation also shared a report that consolidated findings from its “field inspections on tree-cutting and land-clearing activities in Islamabad with key policy, health and ecological considerations related to the ongoing removal of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) and cutting of trees for construction of infrastructure”.

“Between December 2025 and January 2026, extensive tree cutting and land clearing activities were widely reported through social and formal media across multiple locations in the Islamabad, including Shakarparian, Lok Virsa, the National Museum precinct, the Islamabad Expressway (H-8), and the Margalla Enclave Link Road near the National Institute of Health (NIH),” WWF-Pakistan stated.

It added that “several” of these activities were associated with “major infrastructure development works, including road construction and monument-related projects, resulting in large-scale clearance of trees and natural vegetation”.

Subsequently, WWF-Pakistan carried out field verification to “assess the nature, scale, and underlying drivers of these activities, and to distinguish between vegetation removal linked to infrastructure development and that undertaken for public-health purposes”.

The report noted that paper mulberry had been identified by environmental and medical experts as a “major contributor to seasonal pollen allergies in Islamabad, causing allergic rhinitis, asthma and related respiratory issues”.

“Under directives from the Prime Minister’s Office and public health authorities, CDA launched a structured programme to systematically remove this species from parks, greenbelts and public spaces,” it recalled.

WWF-Pakistan found: “Overall, field evidence and available documentation indicate that while a significant portion of tree removal across Islamabad is associated with the paper mulberry eradication programme driven by public-health considerations, substantial vegetation loss has also resulted from infrastructure development, particularly along the H-8 Islamabad Expressway (proposed monument site) and the Margalla Enclave Link Road.

“At the H-8 site alone, infrastructure-related land clearing has resulted in an estimated net loss of approximately five hectares of urban tree and vegetation cover.”

While noting that reforestation and compensatory plantation efforts were reportedly underway at several locations, the report said their “visibility, consistency, and ecological design, especially at infrastructure sites, remain unclear”.

“The long-term ecological success of these interventions will therefore depend on transparent decision-making, clear and site-specific restoration planning, prioritisation of native species, and independent monitoring to ensure that Islamabad’s green character and ecological integrity are effectively safeguarded,” it added.

As per the report, “official sources” indicated that more than 29,000 paper mulberry trees have been removed citywide, including from Shakarparian, Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9), and greenbelts along Park Road and the H-8 Expressway.

Calling attention notice in NA

PTI MNA Riaz Fatyana moved a calling attention notice in the National Assembly on the tree-cutting in the capital and the public concern it was causing.

In reply, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry informed lawmakers that 29,115 trees had been removed, while “40,000 trees of more than 8-10 feet have been planted”.

He said another 60,000 trees will be planted in the same areas on March 30, when the weather will be more suitable for planting.

The CDA has maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed, as they had been causing pollen allergy. However, social media users had alleged that besides paper mulberry indigenous trees were also chopped down, making Shakarparian look like barren land.

Climate Change Minister Musadiq Malik has defended the move, stating that paper mulberry was an invasive and “life-threatening” species.

Speaking in the NA, Chaudhry invited the house and journalists to assess the green areas based on the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) process, adding that the responsible authorities would be answerable if greenery is reduced or green areas are converted into brown.

“Greenery declined till 2020, but the data from 2023-25 shows that the percentage of greenery has increased compared to before,” the state minister said.

He also called for it “not to be made a fashion to make Islamabad the target of criticism or personally hit the CDA chairman”. He added that the decisions were not made by any one person, but taken under a policy.

On the criticism of infrastructure projects based on the argument that trees had to be cut for them, Chaudhry offered to give an on-ground briefing to parliamentarians and journalists on all such projects carried out under the current government.

“If any tree was removed, mature trees four times that number were planted,” he asserted.

On the reason for removing the paper mulberry species, Chaudhry said “by-air seeding” was carried out during Islamabad’s initial development to add greenery.

“Over time, it became evident that some of these species were hazardous to health, causing allergies and other issues,” he said.

The state minister recalled the Islamabad High Court’s 2009 order to speed up the eradication of paper mulberry trees to mitigate pollen allergies, and the formation of a committee in 2020 to ensure environmental protection in the capital.

He also cited a Supreme Court order from 2024, its suo motu notice and the subsequent involvement of two forest experts regarding the removal of paper mulberry trees from the F-9 Park.

As a result, a standard operating procedure (SOP) was determined wherein a survey of the tree species and numbers is first conducted, followed by a public hearing before proceeding to felling the trees.

Responding to a query by Fatyana, Chaudhry said, “We have not earned money by removing trees”. Instead, he added, money has been spent to remove trees harmful to health as the roots of the paper mulberry species also need to be taken out.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2026