IHC orders CDA to halt tree cutting in Islamabad amid public outcry | The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to immediately stop the cutting of trees in the federal capital.

The directive was issued on Thursday by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro during a hearing on a petition filed by Muhammad Naveed Ahmed, who challenged what he described as the illegal felling of trees in Islamabad.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer, Mudassar Latif Abbasi, argued that trees were being cut in violation of existing laws and regulations. He said the practice was contributing to environmental degradation and amounted to a breach of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.

The court summoned the assistant attorney general present in the courtroom and sought an explanation for the tree cutting. Justice Soomro also ordered the CDA to submit a detailed report on the matter and restrained the authority from carrying out further felling until the next hearing.

Notices were issued to the CDA, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Climate Change, directing them to submit para-wise replies along with a comprehensive report. The hearing has been adjourned until February 2.

Read: Who cut Islamabad’s trees – and why?

The court action follows growing public concern over large-scale tree removal in Islamabad. Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry told the National Assembly on Tuesday that 29,115 trees had been removed. He added that more than 40,000 trees measuring between eight and ten feet had already been planted, with a further 60,000 scheduled for plantation on March 30, subject to favourable weather conditions.

The CDA has maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed, citing their role in causing severe pollen allergies.

However, the scale and pace of the cutting have sparked public outrage, with many residents questioning whether Islamabad’s natural heritage is being compromised in the name of public health. Images of cleared areas circulated widely on social media, prompting criticism and demands for greater transparency from the authorities.

Read more: Why does Islamabad hate trees?

Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik has said the removal of paper mulberry trees was carried out in line with Supreme Court orders issued in 2023. He described the species as invasive and non-indigenous, linking it to allergies and deaths among chronic asthma patients. The drive was implemented again in 2025, he said, to eliminate what he termed a life-threatening plant.

Environmental groups, however, dispute the official narrative. A report by WWF-Pakistan has criticised recent tree removal and land clearing in the capital, noting that while the eradication of allergenic invasive species is a contributing factor, significant vegetation loss has also resulted from unchecked infrastructure development.