The petitioner claims to be “practicing a violation of Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Act”
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to immediately stop the felling 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 challenging what he described as illegal tree felling in Islamabad.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer, Mudassar Latif Abbasi, argued that trees were felled in violation of existing laws and regulations. He said the practice contributed to environmental degradation and was a violation of Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Act.
The court summoned the assistant attorney general to the courtroom and sought an explanation for the felling of the tree. Justice Soomro also ordered the CDA to submit a detailed report on the matter and restrained the authority from further felling till the next hearing.
Notices were issued to the CDA, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Climate Change directing them to submit paralogical responses along with a comprehensive report. The hearing has been adjourned until February 2.
Read: Who felled Islamabad’s trees – and why?
The lawsuit follows growing public concern over the large-scale removal of trees 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 another 60,000 scheduled for planting on March 30, subject to favorable 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 cut has 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, giving rise to 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 that the removal of paper mulberry trees was carried out in accordance with Supreme Court orders issued in 2023. He described the species as invasive and non-native, linking it to allergies and deaths among chronic asthma patients. The drive was implemented again in 2025, he said, to eliminate what he called a life-threatening plant.
However, environmental groups dispute the official narrative. A report by WWF-Pakistan has criticized recent tree removal and land clearing in the capital, noting that while the eradication of allergy-causing invasive species is a contributing factor, significant vegetation loss is also a result of uncontrolled infrastructure development.
