Islamabad:
As the clouds of the monsoon meet on the hills of Margalla, another type of storm is being developed in the capital, a chainsaw, excavators and urgent environmental action. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is running to eliminate thousands of Moras de Moras of Islamabad paper before its next flowering to avoid repetition of spring health crises.
Islamabad, held for a long time for its vegetation, is now rethinking its urban landscape. The rapid papyriferous Broussonetia, or paper mulberry, was strongly planted in the 1960s to shape the green image of the city. However, the tree has become one of the main causes of severe seasonal allergies.
“We are not only cutting trees, we are saving lives,” said CDA Irfan Niazi. “This is one of the most important environmental health initiatives in the history of the city.”
Each spring, male blackberry trees release large amounts of pollen in the air, triggering asthma attacks and allergic reactions in thousands of residents. According to the Institute of Medical Sciences of Pakistan (Pims), more than 12,000 allergy patients are treated annually due to Morera pollen, with emergency rooms that report a 30% increase in asthma cases.
“If we do not eliminate a critical number of these trees before the next flowering cycle, we will face another health disaster next year,” said Akhtar Rasool of the CDA horticulture department.
The CDA trees extraction unit, launched last year, has entered an accelerated phase. The directed operations are underway in sectors such as G-6, G-7, F-6 and F-8, where the density of mulberry trees is higher. Each tree is labeled with GPS, evaluated for size and location, and only male trees are removed. Elimination activities are documented for transparency.
Work on crews, dresses with safety equipment, operate daily to cut, chipe and transport the trees. The campaign is backed by traffic and safety equipment to maintain public order and protect infrastructure.
Critically, for each tree eliminated, the CDA is planting at least 10 native species of low allergens such as Phulai (Acacia Modesta), Amaltas (Cassia Fistula), Sukh Cadena (Dalbergia Sissoo) and Olive Wild (Olea Ferruginea). These species support biodiversity, provide shadow and do not release harmful pollen in the air.
“These trees are pollinated by insects or produce heavy pollen, which makes them safer for public health,” said CDA Rana Kashif botanist. He added that CDA nurseries are growing more than 100,000 young people this year, with a massive plantation planned during the Monzón season.
In the Polyclinic hospital, where allergy cases have increased for years, the medical officer, Dr. Swaira, welcomed the move. “We have seen patients develop chronic asthma from repeated exposure. With these removals, we expect a measurable decrease in cases by 2026”.
Hospitals such as Pims and Polyclinic have established dedicated allergy clinics, expanded emergency capacity during the maximum pollen months and are coordinating with CDA to monitor health impacts.
