The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a directive halting the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) tree-cutting operations across the federal capital until February 2. This decision came amid allegations of widespread environmental damage linked to the ongoing tree-felling activities.
Court Orders Suspension and Seeks Detailed Report
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, presiding over the case, issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Naveed Ahmad from the Centre for Justice and Rights. The petition invoked Article 199 of the Constitution, challenging the legality of the tree removal.
During the hearing, Advocate Muddasir Latif Abbasi, representing the petitioner, argued that the tree cutting was being conducted indiscriminately and in violation of environmental regulations. He emphasized that this activity had led to serious ecological changes, threatening public health and contravening the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 (PEPA).
The court summoned Assistant Attorney General Sarfraz Rauf to explain the government’s position and questioned the rationale behind the ongoing tree removal despite existing environmental safeguards.
In response, the court ordered the CDA to immediately cease all tree-felling activities until the next hearing and issued notices to the CDA, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), and the Ministry of Climate Change. These bodies have been directed to submit a detailed, point-by-point report on the matter by the next hearing scheduled for February 2.
Background and Public Concerns
Recently, a large-scale tree removal campaign took place in several areas of Islamabad, including Shakarparian, drawing public criticism. The Minister of State for Interior, Tallal Chaudhry, disclosed in the National Assembly that approximately 29,115 trees had been cut, attributing the removals to three possible causes and promising a higher number of tree plantations in the future.
While the CDA claimed that only paper mulberry trees were removed due to their role in causing pollen allergies, investigations by WWF-Pakistan suggested that the tree cutting was also connected to infrastructure development projects in multiple locations.
Legal and Environmental Violations Alleged
The petition highlighted that the tree-cutting operations violated the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, the Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance 1979, and the Islamabad Master Plan, which designates areas like Shakarparian as protected green zones. It also pointed out that no public hearings were held as required by environmental laws, and that Pak-EPA failed to act promptly.
The Ministry of Climate Change was criticized for publicly justifying the tree cutting instead of intervening, with claims that the actions were carried out under court orders.
The petitioner asserted that thousands of mature trees were felled during late 2025 and early 2026, causing significant and irreversible environmental harm.
Petition Requests and Court’s Role
The petitioner requested the IHC to compel the CDA to provide official records detailing the tree-cutting operations, including approvals, legal justifications, and any environmental impact assessments conducted. He sought accountability at the highest levels within the CDA and called for exemplary penal action under relevant laws.
Additionally, the petition urged the court to hold Pak-EPA and the Ministry of Climate Change responsible for their inaction, and to impose an immediate ban on all tree cutting in Islamabad.
To ensure thorough investigation, the petitioner proposed the formation of a high-powered judicial commission headed by a retired judge to examine violations of the Islamabad Master Plan, unauthorized tree cutting, and encroachments, with a report due within 90 days.
Furthermore, the petitioner asked the court to direct the CDA to compensate for the lost trees by transplanting mature native trees and planting additional new ones at a ratio of at least ten new trees for every one removed.
He also requested a detailed report on the implementation of recommendations from the 2015 Dr Parvez Hassan Report on similar environmental issues, aiming to identify violations and enforce penalties.
Lastly, the petitioner called for the establishment of an independent, empowered body—including experts and civil society members—to approve any future tree-cutting activities only in cases of genuine necessity.
Concerns Over Infrastructure Projects
The petition raised specific concerns about infrastructure developments, including the construction of a monument in Sector H-8 along the Islamabad Expressway. It alleged that hundreds of decades-old native trees were cut without justification related to pollen allergies.
The petitioner questioned the transparency of site selection and requested the court to require the CDA to justify why the monument could not be located in an existing park or public space.
Additionally, the petitioner sought to halt further construction of a new cricket stadium and convention center until the court or a designated commission approves these projects, emphasizing the need for environmental protection and adherence to the Master Plan.
He called for a moratorium on all current and upcoming infrastructure projects in Islamabad until an independent oversight mechanism is established to review and approve projects with environmental considerations.
The petition urged the court to issue an injunction to stop all construction and civil works in Sector H-8, and to relocate projects to sites that do not cause environmental harm, setting a precedent that environmental degradation will not be tolerated even after project commencement.
Scope of Tree Cutting and Related Activities
The petition noted that indiscriminate tree cutting had taken place in multiple sectors, including H-8, H-9, F-9 Park, Chak Shahzad, and near Zero Point. Some of these activities were linked to infrastructure projects such as park upgrades, road construction, and the establishment of a bus depot.
