The Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has offered an independent inquiry into the ongoing tree-cutting drive in Islamabad, stating that the trees were removed on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health.

Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, directed the Ministry of Climate Change to form a committee to review the issue afresh. She also stressed that civil society representatives should be included alongside the district administration and CDA in the review process.

The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change met under the chairmanship of Sherry Rehman, where members discussed the cutting of trees in various parts of Islamabad, including Shakarparian, Park Road, and F-9 Park. Addressing the meeting, the chairperson said the issue of tree cutting in Islamabad had been prominently highlighted in media reports, adding that authorities often become active only after public outcry. She emphasized the need to strike a balance between development projects and environmental protection.

During the briefing, the Minister of State for Health informed the committee that paper mulberry trees were planted in Islamabad between 1960 and 1980 and have adverse health impacts, particularly causing pollen allergies. He said a total of 80,000 trees are to be removed, of which 29,115 have already been cut, while 40,000 indigenous trees have been planted as replacements.

The CDA Chairman told the committee that no new cricket ground is being constructed in F-9 Park and reiterated the authority’s policy of planting three trees for every tree cut. He said 34 trees were removed near the Zero Point Metro Depot, against which 300 trees were planted, while more than 4,000 new trees have been planted at the F-8 Interchange.

Representatives of civil society raised concerns over the cutting of paper mulberry trees in F-9 Park, claiming technical mistakes by the CDA and stressing that trees should not be felled in bulk. The committee chair directed the CDA to take civil society members and forestry experts into confidence and to present a complete list of all parks in Islamabad at the next meeting.

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Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the committee that green areas in Islamabad were not being converted into brown areas, adding that the city’s green cover had increased over the past two years. He said designs of several projects were modified to save trees and that all actions were taken in accordance with policy.