WWF-Pakistan on Tuesday disputed the Islamabad authorities’ stance that only paper mulberry trees were removed in the capital, stating that the action was also linked to infrastructure development.
Recently, large-scale tree removal took place in at least three locations in the federal capital, including acres of tree cover around Shakarparian. Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) has maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed as they had been causing pollen allergies, and earlier on Tuesday Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry assured lawmakers that more trees would be planted in the coming months.
“WWF-Pakistan’s field assessments indicate that vegetation loss in the capital is not limited to Paper Mulberry management alone, but is also linked to infrastructure development in multiple locations,” the environmental body said on social media.
“Beyond pollen and allergies, Islamabad’s recent tree removal reflects broader challenges in urban planning,” it added.
Social media users and even some lawmakers have alleged that, besides paper mulberry, old indigenous trees were also chopped down.
Responding to those queries in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Chaudhry explained there were “three possible reasons” for removing the trees: the presence of paper mulberry species; areas designated as brown zones in Islamabad’s Master Plan but commonly regarded as green until development began, including Embassy Road; and sectors also considered as green areas until they were built.
“I am saying with utmost responsibility that no other species was removed,” he asserted, about the claims of other species besides paper mulberry being cut.
In its Facebook post, WWF-Pakistan noted: “Urban trees play a critical role in soil stability, climate regulation, and biodiversity support.
“Any tree removal must follow evidence-based planning, legal compliance, and clear restoration commitments to ensure long-term ecological balance,” it demanded.
The environmental organisation also shared its report, dated Monday and authored by WWF-Pakistan Director Forest Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, proposing a “science-based strategy for gradual removal and replacement of paper mulberry” in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Paper mulberry a ‘highly invasive species’
Citing research papers, the report noted that paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) was a “non-native, highly invasive species in Islamabad and Rawalpindi that has aggressively colonised natural vegetation pockets, from the Margalla foothills and associated nullahs to urban and peri-urban sectors”.
It not only acknowledged the species’ “well-documented role” in pollen allergies, but also pointed out that it “suppresses native tree regeneration, ground flora and associated wildlife habitats through rapid growth, dense canopy formation, and allelopathic effects”.
The report further said that its complete eradication was “ecologically impractical and technically unrealistic” due to its regeneration abilities.
Expressing ecological concerns, it stated: “Sudden, large-scale removal, especially uprooting, risks soil disturbance, erosion, loss of understorey vegetation, and displacement of urban wildlife.
“Indiscriminate felling may also unintentionally remove native species and mixed natural growth, further degrading ecological integrity and ecosystem services.”
The WWF-Pakistan report called for all activities to be guided by “site-specific ecological assessments and legally compliant Environmental Impact Assessments where applicable”.
“Public disclosure of species removed, species planted, and survival outcomes is essential to maintain transparency and public trust,” it added.
American Dollar Exchange Rate