LAHORE: Despite a clear ban imposed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on felling trees, allegations of indiscriminate tree-felling have emerged at the Punjab University, triggering public outrage, student backlash on social media and an official inquiry by the university administration.
According to an application submitted by the Shajar Dost Community, the controversy began after the western outer wall of the PU’s Shaikh Zayed Islamic Centre collapsed following strong winds and rain, damaging seven trees months back.
In response, the university’s engineering branch reportedly proposed the cutting of 48 trees located adjacent to the wall.
The application states that on Jan 17, 2026, a private contractor began cutting down trees with the operation continuing intensively over the weekend. As the university was closed on Saturday and Sunday, the trees were allegedly cut and removed without any resistance or notice taken by the students.
University claims Shaikh Zayed Islamic Centre is autonomous, it had hired contractor to fell trees; VC orders inquiry
The Shajar Dost Community further alleged that no tender for the cutting of trees was advertised in either the print media or on the university’s website, calling the process illegal. It claimed that without informing the auction committee, the tree-cutting contract was awarded for just Rs550,000, and that nearly 60 trees had already been felled. Among them were fruit-bearing mango and jambolan trees. The community has demanded a transparent and impartial inquiry into the matter.
The issue quickly gained attention on social media where students, environmental activists and concerned citizens condemned the needless tree-felling activity in the middle of the city.
Several students shared pictures and videos from the site, accusing the authorities of violating court orders and destroying green spaces on the campus.
Many social media users questioned how such an activity could take place at a leading public university, calling it ‘environmental negligence’ and urging accountability. Hashtags condemning the incident circulated widely, with students demanding strict action against those responsible and immediate reforestation.
Meanwhile, PU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered an immediate halt to any further tree-cutting, after 60 trees had already been cut down, along with a prompt investigation. Terming illegal tree-felling a serious offence, he said it would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
However, a university spokesperson said the Shaikh Zayed Islamic Centre—an autonomous institution within the university—had initiated the cutting on Sunday night without informing the university administration. Upon receiving a report from the security office, guards rushed to the site, stopped the operation, and intercepted a tractor-trolley loaded with logs of the trees that were cut down, he claimed.
The spokesperson added that the Islamic centre’s administration had illegally hired a private contractor without approval from the PU or relevant authorities. While some of the felled trees were reportedly dry, the prescribed rules and regulations were not followed even for their removal, he added.
Calling the incident very unfortunate, VC Dr Shah directed strict action against those responsible. He acknowledged that the loss could not be immediately compensated but assured that hundreds of new trees would be planted at the same location without delay.
The incident has, once again, raised questions about enforcement of environmental laws and the protection of green spaces in public institutions, particularly at a time when climate concerns are growing across the country. It also shows lack of knowledge among the people, even educated ones and the academia, about the importance of trees in a big city like Lahore.
Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2026