Islamabad ‘greener than before’, Talal Chaudhry defends tree cutting

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Tuesday rejected criticism over large-scale tree cutting in the federal capital, saying that only allergy-causing paper mulberry trees had been removed, asserting that Islamabad is now “greener than before”.

Responding to a calling-attention notice moved by MNA Muhammad Riaz Fatyana regarding wanton tree cutting in Islamabad, Chaudhry told the National Assembly that the issue had been widely discussed without facts being properly established.

“The issue had been widely debated on social and electronic media, but facts established that only specific categories of trees were removed — primarily paper mulberry, long identified as a source of severe allergies and health issues,” he said.

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Explaining the rationale behind the removals, the minister said, “Tree removal in Islamabad generally occurs under three circumstances: development activities carried out under the city’s original master plan where brownfield areas remained unbuilt; infrastructure requirements such as new roads, underpasses, and overhead structures; and the removal of hazardous species, especially paper mulberry.”

Chaudhry said areas commonly perceived as green spaces were, in fact, designated as brown-area zones in the original master plan. He maintained that no infrastructure project undertaken during the past 18 months had removed trees without following due process.

“Every project went through mandatory public hearings, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review, certification, and mapping through SPARCO imagery and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), an internationally recognised method for assessing green cover,” he said.

Referring to the expansion of Embassy Road in 2016–17, the minister said trees temporarily planted on unbuilt road space were later removed and replaced with four times more trees once construction was completed in line with the approved plan.

He said more than 40,000 mature trees, each between eight and 10 feet tall, had already been planted, while another 60,000 would be planted by March.

The minister added that the paper mulberry issue had been under consideration for years, beginning with Islamabad High Court orders in 2009, followed by the formation of an environmental committee in 2010, a public hearing in 2023, and a Supreme Court decision in 2024.

According to Chaudhry, 2,915 trees were removed only after complete surveying, tagging and expert review. He said committees appointed by the Supreme Court confirmed that only paper mulberry trees were removed and that no healthy indigenous species were affected.

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He said SPARCO imagery, Google Maps data and NDVI analysis showed that Islamabad’s green cover had increased between 2023 and 2025, contradicting claims that greenery was diminishing.

The minister invited parliamentarians and journalists to attend an on-ground technical briefing to verify the data. He also underlined that removing paper mulberry trees did not generate revenue, saying resources were instead spent to uproot the species completely to prevent regrowth.

“Islamabad was now safer, more modern and greener than before,” Chaudhry said, urging that criticism based on misinformation should not overshadow factual environmental improvements.

The matter was referred to the relevant committee for further examination.

Scientific basis behind mulberry tree removal: Musadik Malik

Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik on Tuesday said the recent removal of wild mulberry (paper mulberry) trees in Shakarparian was carried out on the basis of scientific assessments, noting that pollen from the species affects 30 to 37 per cent of Islamabad’s population.

The minister made the remarks during a field visit to Shakarparian, where he reviewed tree removal and replanting efforts. He said environmental protection remained a serious and ongoing priority for the government, adding that amendments were being made to existing laws to increase penalties for environmental violations.

Dr Malik personally inspected the cutting of paper mulberry trees as well as the replanting of indigenous species. “The removal of paper mulberry trees in Shakarparian followed a scientific identification process. Any negligence or violation of the law at any stage will be addressed,” he said. He added that studies examining the impact of paper mulberry pollen were being conducted internationally.

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Referring to public consultation, the minister said hearings had been held at F-9 Park and other parts of Islamabad, and that records and minutes of these sessions had been sought. “Public hearings are a fundamental right of the people, and complete details are being obtained wherever such hearings have taken place in Islamabad,” he said.

Dr Malik said the Capital Development Authority had been directed to plant three new trees for every tree removed, while the Ministry of Climate Change would also undertake additional afforestation initiatives in the federal capital.

He added that the Environment Protection Agency had been instructed to count trees and compile related data to ensure that all actions complied with the law. Construction projects found to be in violation of environmental requirements would be issued show-cause notices, he said.

Speaking about legal reforms, he said, “Amendments are being made to increase the penalties for environmental violations. Currently, fines are capped at Rs1 million, but this limit will be raised.” He clarified that while the ministry did not directly carry out tree cutting or plantation, it was responsible for oversight and monitoring. “There will be no compromise on the protection of Islamabad’s greenery. Environmental protection is a serious and permanent priority of the government,” he maintained.