Over 29,000 trees cut in Islamabad to keep pollen allergy at bay

As part of the government’s campaign to rid Islamabad of pollen allergy, on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Health Ministry and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have jointly cut more than 29,000 trees, which are the cause of the spread of the disease, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Every tree that has been cut has been replaced with three trees of a local breed.

More than 40,000 environmental- friendly trees have been planted in the affected areas so far.

The Health Ministry has said that the areas where such trees have been cut are Shakarparian, F-9 Park and some large sectors.

The ministry has informed that only Paper Mulberry trees have been chopped while those of local breeds and non-allergic are safe.

It has further said that tenders have been issued for 18,000 more trees.

The ministry has also informed that following the cutting of these trees, the number of pollen allergy patients has dropped by 23 per cent during the last two years.

Compared with 2023, the number of such patients in 2025 are now less than half.

The ministry has elaborated that record decrease has been witnessed in such cases in November and December 2025.

Reporter Babar Shahzad Turk