A government-led initiative to eradicate allergenic paper mulberry trees has resulted in a significant 23 per cent decline in pollen allergy cases across the federal capital over two years.
According to new health data today, the comprehensive campaign, launched in late 2024 under a prime ministerial directive, has successfully removed over 29,000 invasive trees, providing tangible relief to thousands of residents.
The drive was initiated in the last quarter of 2024 after the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan designated the pollen issue a priority. A clear action plan was established during a high-level meeting on November 27, 2024, chaired by Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) was tasked with executing the large-scale removal and providing regular progress reports.
In collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services, the CDA implemented a rigorous three-step scientific process for the complete eradication of the allergenic species. The methodology involved felling the trees, uprooting the entire root system, and subsequently refilling the soil to prevent regrowth. Officials confirmed this protocol was applied exclusively to the invasive Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry), and no indigenous or non-allergenic trees were disturbed.
The operation targeted major sectors and green spaces, resulting in the removal of 29,115 paper mulberry trees. The most extensive felling occurred in F-9 Park, where 12,800 trees were uprooted, and Shakarparian, with 8,700 trees cleared. In urban areas, 2,965 trees were removed from sectors G-10, G-11, F-10, F-11, D-12, and along Srinagar Highway, with thousands more cleared from other residential sectors including G-8, G-9, F-8, H-8, and H-9.
Following the eradication phase, the project has transitioned to a green restoration strategy. Government policy mandates that for every allergenic tree removed, three new environment-friendly, indigenous trees must be planted. To date, 40,000 large indigenous trees, including a mix of fruit-bearing and pine species, have been planted on the cleared sites.
This replanting drive has been supported by public-private partnerships. MIRA Power Limited contributed 3,000 indigenous saplings, while the Beaconhouse School System planted an additional 5,000 trees in the F-9 area. A tender for 18,000 more large-size indigenous trees was opened on January 6, 2026, in partnership with OGDCL. In Shakarparian, 81 acres of land have been prepared for the upcoming planting season. The entire project is scheduled for completion by the end of April 2026.
Statistical data from the Allergy Centre Islamabad validates the programme’s positive health impact. The number of patients requiring pollen allergy vaccinations has steadily decreased, dropping from 16,250 in 2023 to 12,449 by the end of 2025.
The most pronounced effect was observed in the final months of 2025. Vaccination cases fell to 512 in November and 519 in December, a sharp contrast to the 1,164 and 1,141 cases recorded in the same months of 2023. These figures indicate a direct link between the targeted removal of allergenic flora and improved air quality for the city’s inhabitants.