Islamabad is ‘greener than before’, Talal Chaudhry defends tree felling

Minister of State for Home Affairs Talal Chaudhry on Tuesday rejected criticism over alleged large-scale felling of trees in the federal capital, saying only allergy-causing paper mulberry trees had been removed and claiming that Islamabad is now “greener than before”.

Responding to a call-out notice filed by MNA Muhammad Riaz Fatyana on unjustified felling of trees in Islamabad, Chaudhry told the National Assembly that the issue had been widely discussed without the facts having been properly established.

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

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Explaining the reason for the removals, the minister said that tree felling in Islamabad occurs under three specific circumstances, including infrastructure development and removal of dangerous species. “Tree felling in Islamabad generally occurs under three circumstances: development activities carried out under the city’s original master plan, where abandoned areas remained undeveloped; infrastructure requirements such as new roads, underpasses and elevated structures; and the removal of dangerous species, especially paper mulberry trees,” he added.

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

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

Referring to the expansion of Embassy Road in 2016-2017, the minister said trees temporarily planted on unconstructed road spaces were later removed and replaced with four times as many trees once construction was completed in accordance 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 in March.

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The minister added that the paper mulberry issue had been under consideration for years, starting with Islamabad High Court orders in 2009, followed by the formation of an environment 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 full study, labeling and expert review. He said Supreme Court-appointed committees confirmed that only paper mulberry trees were removed and that no healthy native species were affected.

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 vegetation was declining.

The minister invited parliamentarians and journalists to attend a technical briefing on the ground to verify the data. He also stressed that the removal of paper mulberry trees did not generate income, and said resources were instead spent completely uprooting the species and preventing them from growing back.

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

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

Scientific basis behind mulberry tree removal: Musadik Malik

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik on Tuesday said the recent removal of wild mulberry trees (paper mulberries) 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 these 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 felling of paper mulberry trees and the replanting of native 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 mulberry pollen are being conducted internationally.

Referring to the public consultation, the minister said that hearings had been held in F-9 Park and other parts of Islamabad, and records and minutes of these sessions had been requested. “Public hearings are a fundamental right of the people, and full details are being obtained in all places where such hearings have been held in Islamabad,” he said.

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

He added that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had been instructed to count trees and collect related data to ensure all actions complied with the law. Construction projects that violate environmental requirements will receive show cause notices, he said.

Talking about legal reforms, Dr Malik said, “Amendments are being made to increase penalties for environmental violations. Currently, fines are capped at Rs 1 million, but this limit will be increased.” He clarified that although the ministry did not directly carry out tree felling or planting, it was responsible for supervision and monitoring.

“There will be no compromise in the protection of Islamabad’s greenery. Environmental protection is a serious and permanent priority of the government,” the minister said.