ISLAMABAD: Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman, has taken serious notice of large scale tree cutting carried out by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) across various areas of Islamabad, terming the activity deeply alarming.
Senator Rehman has summoned the Chairman of the CDA to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change on Jan 13, to provide a detailed explanation regarding the scope, rationale and environmental safeguards – or lack thereof – associated with the ongoing tree cutting. She asserted, “Justifications being given that three saplings are being planted per felled tree are no substitute for 50 year old trees. We all know the fate of the tsunami. Millions of saplings are lost every year, so this is not a valid response or justification.”
Shedding light on deforestation, she said, “Pakistan retains only 5 % of its forest cover – the lowest in South Asia. Over the last 33 years, our forests have shrunk by 18 %, dropping from 3.78 million hectares in 1992 to just 3.09 million hectares in 2025. Deforestation cannot be normalised.”
Field inspections conducted between December 2025 and January 2026 have revealed massive clearing along the H 8 Islamabad Expressway, the Margalla Enclave Link Road and Shakarparian, resulting in large swathes of exposed soil and visibly incomplete restoration work. These findings raise serious environmental concerns and point to significant gaps in transparency, site specific planning and post cutting monitoring. “In Islamabad, the unchecked removal of trees – including those over 50 years old – is unacceptable. Environmental protection cannot be compromised under any pretext,” Senator Sherry Rehman stated. “The capital city cannot be allowed to be ‘browned’ in the name of paper mulberry or development.” She emphasised that Islamabad’s green cover is a national responsibility, and its protection must be ensured through lawful, transparent and scientifically sound practices. “Violations of environmental laws will not be tolerated. When the CDA is engaged in tree removal, it is duty bound to keep citizens fully informed and to ensure credible environmental restoration,” she said.
Referring to worsening air quality across the country, Senator Rehman warned, “Lahore and Multan are already suffering severely from smog. Are we now prepared to push Islamabad down the same path?” She further stressed that environmental protection is critical for future generations, noting that the loss of tree cover directly contributes to rising temperatures, air pollution and public health risks. “Green spaces are essential for a healthy and livable city. Any action taken in the name of public welfare must be transparent, accountable and effective.” Senator Sherry Rehman said that the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change will consider recommending stricter implementation of existing laws and enforcement mechanisms to prevent arbitrary tree cutting in the future and to ensure that environmental safeguards are upheld in letter and spirit.
