The Parks & Horticulture Authority (PHA) on Monday imposed an immediate bans on the felling, trimming, or pruning of trees in Lahore city district following recent disciplinary action against four of its officers. The move comes after the Lahore High Court criticised the authority for unauthorised tree cutting along Canal Road last week.
Read More: LHC warns of action against PHA officials over tree–cutting
According to a PHA notification, no tree-related work—including minor branch cutting, pruning, or trimming—can be carried out without prior written approval from the competent authority. The order applies regardless of whether the work is for safety, clearance of electric lines, or aesthetic maintenance. All directors, project directors, and in-charge officers have been directed to ensure strict compliance.
The PHA had previously withdrawn the Canal Project charge from the director and suspended three other officers after a fully grown branch was cut near the Doctors’ Hospital Underpass, sparking public criticism. The action followed an internal inquiry into the incident.
Lahore has experienced significant tree loss in recent years due to infrastructure projects, including the Rs2 billion Signal-Free Corridor Project, the Rs160 billion Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, and the Rs1.5 billion Canal Road widening. Around 2,100 trees were removed in these projects, with an additional 1,300 uprooted for Canal Road widening and 120 cut for the Link Canal Road.
The Canal Road stretch, a major urban green corridor, underwent a geotagging survey last year, recording 27,950 trees and 5,000 shrubs, including species, height, girth, age, and condition. The survey, completed on Lahore High Court orders, supports spatial analysis and monitoring of the green belt, which mitigates air pollution, regulates the microclimate, and enhances urban biodiversity.
Read More: PHA to cut 1,300 trees along Canal Road despite ban
The PHA emphasised that protecting trees is crucial for environmental conservation and warned that violations of the new ban would be dealt with under relevant laws and regulations.