Paper mulberry removal approved, IHC told

Pak-EPA also addressed a letter to CDA Member Environment, emphasising the need for joint planning and consultation

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Climate Change has declared paper mulberry an invasive, non-native species and deemed its removal permissible.

In a written submission to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the ministry stated that tree-cutting operations in the federal capital were confined exclusively to paper mulberry.

The reply, submitted in a case pending before Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro concerning tree felling, maintained that other species - including kachnar, sanbal, pine and sukh chain - were identified through proper marking and preserved.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) also undertook compensatory plantation at alternative sites following the removal of trees. However, the ministry acknowledged that the operation was carried out without prior consultation.

The ministry stated that upon learning of the tree-cutting, it wrote to the Interior Secretary expressing its concerns and reservations.

The Pak-EPA also addressed a letter to the CDA Member Environment, emphasising the need for joint planning and consultation.

According to the submission, the CDA is legally bound to obtain prior approval from Pak-EPA before undertaking tree-cutting, and consultation with the IWMB is likewise mandatory.