Independent Report
Islamabad: The federal government has decided to phase out allergy-causing paper mulberry trees from Islamabad while ensuring the protection of the capital’s green cover, officials said on Friday.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting on environmental protection chaired by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik. The meeting was briefed on the adverse health impacts of paper mulberry and the planned, gradual removal of the species.
Dr Malik directed that native, fruit-bearing and pine trees be planted as replacements, assuring that multiple trees would be planted against every tree removed. He stressed that Islamabad’s greenery would be protected at all costs and no compromise would be made on environmental safeguards.
The federal minister said no environmental measure would be taken without full compliance with laws and regulations, adding that strict implementation of environmental laws would be ensured. He termed improvement of Islamabad’s environment and protection of public health a government priority.
The meeting reviewed the current situation and agreed on coordinated future actions with the effective involvement of all relevant institutions in the plantation campaign.
