Islamabad – The Capital Development Authority (CDA), together with a civil society group and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), planted nearly 500 pine trees on Thursday at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange.
The trees, each about 12 feet tall, were placed in a joint initiative aimed at boosting the city’s green cover. Organizers noted that January’s cooler weather suits pine planting well, as it allows the young trees to root firmly and provide lasting benefits to the environment.
This step follows CDA’s recent removal of over 29,000 paper mulberry trees across Islamabad. Officials have said the removals targeted this species because its pollen triggers allergies and breathing problems for many residents.
The tree-cutting drew sharp public backlash and led to court action. On Thursday last week, the Islamabad High Court ordered the CDA to stop all tree felling in the capital until further notice. The court asked for a full report from the CDA and other agencies involved. It also called the government’s law officer to appear and explain the reasons behind the removals.
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The hearing has been put off until February 2. CDA maintains that the paper mulberry removal followed an approved plan to cut down on allergy issues. Authorities have promised to replace removed trees with new ones, including native and fruit-bearing varieties, to keep or even increase overall greenery.
In recent statements, government officials have pointed out that more than 40,000 mature trees have already gone in as replacements in some cleared spots, with plans for tens of thousands more by spring.
