The petitioner argues that “the practice constitutes a violation of the Environment Protection Act of Pakistan”
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to immediately stop felling of trees in the federal capital.
The directive was issued on Thursday by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro during a hearing on a petition filed by Muhammad Naveed Ahmed, who questioned what he described as illegal felling of trees in Islamabad.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer, Mudassar Latif Abbasi, argued that trees were being felled in violation of the existing laws and regulations. He said the practice was contributing to environmental degradation and amounted to a violation of Pakistan’s Environment Protection Act.
The court summoned the deputy attorney general present in the courtroom and sought an explanation for the felling of trees. Justice Soomro also directed the CDA to submit a detailed report on the matter and restrained the authority from carrying out further felling until the next hearing.
Notices were issued to the CDA, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency and the Ministry of Climate Change, directing them to submit parallel responses along with a full report. The hearing was adjourned until February 2.
Read: Who cut down the trees in Islamabad and why?
The court action follows growing public concern over large-scale tree felling in Islamabad. Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry told the National Assembly on Tuesday that 29,115 trees had been felled. He added that more than 40,000 trees between two and three meters high have already been planted and that the planting of another 60,000 is planned for March 30, subject to favorable weather conditions.
The CDA has maintained that only paper mulberries were removed, citing their role in causing serious pollen allergies.
However, the scale and pace of the logging has sparked public outrage, with many residents questioning whether Islamabad’s natural heritage is being compromised in the name of public health. Images of cleared areas circulated widely on social media, generating criticism and demands for greater transparency from authorities.
Read more: Why does Islamabad hate trees?
Minister of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik said the removal of paper mulberries was carried out in accordance with Supreme Court orders issued in 2023. He described the species as invasive and non-native, linking it to allergies and deaths among chronic asthma patients. The campaign was rolled out again in 2025, he said, to remove what he called a potentially deadly plant.
Environmental groups, however, question the official version. A WWF-Pakistan report criticizes recent tree felling and land clearing in the capital, noting that while the eradication of allergenic invasive species is a contributing factor, significant vegetation loss has also been the result of uncontrolled infrastructure development.
