Around 500 twelve-foot pine trees were planted on Thursday at the Tayyip Erdoğan Interchange in a joint effort involving a civil society organization, MCI, and the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
Organizers said January’s weather is well-suited for pine plantation, helping saplings establish better and deliver long-term environmental gains.
The plantation drive comes in the wake of CDA’s citywide removal of more than 29,000 paper mulberry trees, a step officials linked to reducing pollen-related allergies.
The removals, however, triggered public criticism and led to an Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the CDA to immediately stop cutting trees in the federal capital until further orders
The court sought a detailed report from CDA and other relevant bodies, and summoned the government’s law officer to explain the justification for the drive.
The case has been adjourned to February 2, while authorities maintain the removal of paper mulberry trees was carried out under an approved plan to address pollen allergies, with officials also pledging plantation in return for removed trees.