18,000 Indigenous Trees to Be Planted in Islamabad in Partnership with OGDCL

PAKISTAN – Environment

The federal government has opened a tender for the plantation of 18,000 additional large-size indigenous trees on January 6, 2026, in partnership with Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), to further strengthen Islamabad’s green restoration drive, according to a Press Information Department (PID) update.

The initiative is part of a broader reforestation campaign launched to address the long-standing issue of seasonal pollen allergies in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The campaign was initiated following a directive from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who declared the pollen crisis a priority public health concern. Under this decision, a total of 29,115 allergenic paper mulberry trees have so far been removed from the federal capital.

The pollen management campaign was formally initiated in the last quarter of 2024 after a high-level meeting held on November 27, chaired by Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) was tasked with executing a comprehensive plan to remove invasive paper mulberry trees and submit regular progress reports.

A scientifically approved three-step eradication process was adopted, involving cutting the trees, uprooting the entire root system, and refilling the soil to prevent regrowth. Authorities clarified that the operation exclusively targeted the invasive Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry), and no indigenous or non-allergenic tree species were disturbed during the drive.

The eradication campaign covered major green belts and urban sectors across Islamabad. Large-scale removal was carried out in F-9 Park, where 12,800 trees were removed, and Shakarparian, where 8,700 trees were cleared. Additional removals included 2,965 trees from G-10, G-11, F-10, F-11, D-12 and along Srinagar Highway, as well as 1,405 trees in G-8, 839 in G-9, 490 in F-8, 1,142 in H-8 and 534 in H-9.

Following the completion of the removal phase, the campaign has transitioned into a long-term and sustainable reforestation strategy. Under government policy, three environment-friendly indigenous trees are being planted for every allergenic tree removed. So far, 40,000 large indigenous trees have already been planted at cleared sites, including fruit-bearing and pine species to promote ecological balance.

The restoration drive has been further strengthened through public-private partnerships. MIRA Power Limited has contributed 3,000 indigenous saplings, while the Beaconhouse School System planted an additional 5,000 trees in the F-9 area. In Shakarparian, 81 acres of land across three sites have been levelled and prepared, with pit-digging currently underway ahead of the upcoming planting season. The entire project, from eradication to final replantation, is scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2026.

Health data from the Allergy Center Islamabad indicates a marked improvement following the campaign. The number of patients receiving pollen allergy vaccinations has declined steadily, from 16,250 in 2023 to 14,747 in 2024, and further to 12,449 by the end of 2025—reflecting an overall reduction of 23 percent in two years. The most significant impact was recorded in late 2025, when monthly cases dropped to 512 in November and 519 in December, compared to over 1,100 cases in the corresponding months of 2023.

Officials say the figures clearly demonstrate that the government’s decisive action against allergenic trees has contributed to cleaner air, improved public health, and a greener, more sustainable future for the residents of Islamabad. – ER News Desk

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