ISLAMABAD: The government moved to quell public outrage on Friday as Climate Change Minister Dr Musadiq Malik defended the recent chopping of thousands of trees in the federal capital, claiming the exercise targeted non-native paper mulberry species linked to severe allergies. He said around 29,000 paper mulberry trees had been removed in accordance with earlier Supreme Court orders and replaced through a large-scale plantation drive.
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Speaking in a televised discussion after chairing a meeting on the matter, Dr Malik insisted the process was aimed at environmental restoration rather than deforestation. “One tree chopped is being replaced with three new saplings,” he noted, adding that indigenous varieties would be prioritized to enhance ecological resilience.
Public criticism escalated following the clearing of large swathes in areas such as Shakarparian, H-8 and Chak Shahzad, where residents argued that healthy and decades-old trees beyond paper mulberry had been felled. However, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) maintained that only allergenic paper mulberry trees were removed at sites where the species accounted for over 90 per cent of total coverage.
Officials said the felling plan followed consultation with the health ministry, which confirmed the trees as a major trigger for asthma and seasonal allergies in Islamabad. The Climate Ministry also stated plans to replace the removed species with fruit-bearing and native pine trees to ensure overall tree cover does not diminish.
In an apparent response to online criticism, the CDA launched an off-season plantation effort in January — weeks earlier than its usual spring schedule — prompting further questions from environmental groups and residents about frost survival rates. CDA officials defended the move, saying species like Chir Pine can withstand winter planting, with a target of 30,000 saplings set for the ongoing campaign.
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The ministry emphasized improved coordination among agencies including CDA, EPA and the Islamabad Wildlife Board to streamline ecological compliance, regulatory processes and spring planting activities.