A stretch of Shakarparian Road once known for its calm, green beauty now tells a different story. Where tall, mature trees once lined the road, there is now open land and freshly dug soil. Workers can be seen preparing pits for new saplings, while signboards promise a “Greener and Healthier Islamabad” under a plantation drive by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Despite these assurances, the sudden removal of long-standing trees has alarmed residents and sparked public anger.
Many Islamabad residents say the loss of mature trees cannot be justified by planting young saplings. For decades, these trees provided shade, reduced heat, and softened the city’s traffic noise. Their abrupt disappearance has raised serious questions about why they were cut and whether replacing them with small plants truly protects the environment.
The issue gained wider attention after images of the tree cutting spread on social media. Citizens questioned the authorities’ motives and demanded clarity about the scale and purpose of the operation. Officials say the drive is part of an effort to remove paper mulberry, a non-native tree blamed for causing severe pollen allergies in the capital. The campaign was restarted in 2025 under court orders to reduce health risks.
Environmental groups, however, argue that the situation is far more complicated. A recent WWF-Pakistan report criticises the tree-cutting drive, stating that tree loss is not only due to the removal of paper mulberry but also because of rapid and poorly planned infrastructure development. According to the report, large areas in Shakarparian, H-8, and along major roads were cleared, leaving exposed soil and weak restoration efforts.
Experts have also raised concerns over how the operation was carried out. Climate policy expert Dr Zainab Naeem said the problem is not the removal of paper mulberry itself, but the careless manner in which it was done. She explained that the court-recommended phased approach and prior plantation of native trees were ignored. She warned that cutting even indigenous species, such as shisham, could worsen Islamabad’s rising temperatures, air pollution, flooding risks, and extreme weather.
Water resources expert Dr Hassan Abbas echoed these concerns, saying large-scale tree cutting can seriously harm groundwater recharge and climate balance. He stressed that even health-related actions must follow proper environmental planning, as replacing trees with concrete only increases heat and environmental stress.
In response to criticism, the CDA has defended its actions. Officials say the operation is being conducted strictly under Supreme Court instructions and only paper mulberry trees are being removed. According to the CDA’s Environment Wing, around 29,000 paper mulberry trees have been cut so far in areas including F-9 Park, Shakarparian, and H-8, with strict supervision during the process.
While authorities insist the drive is lawful and necessary for public health, many citizens and experts remain unconvinced. For them, the sight of Islamabad losing its green cover raises a deeper concern: whether short-term solutions are being chosen at the cost of the city’s long-term environmental future.
