Felling trees in Karachi

Recently, some members of civil society obtained a stay order to save some trees in the city from ruthless chopping. This chopping of trees was being carried out just for the sake of a few bucks. The higher authorities of the local bodies’ ministry and the metropolitan administration were behind this brutality.

Some 1,400 trees were planted during 2008 by then city mayor Mustafa Kamal in a bid to control the environmental hazards caused by constant pollution in the city. Ironically, these trees were being butchered just to accommodate the cheap outdoor advertising billboards. Trees produce oxygen and counter the adverse effects on the climate. These green friends of ours are regarded as the lungs of the city.

What is more unfortunate is that this story of felling trees haphazardly had its roots in the office of the local bodies’ ministry. One of our own ministers is said to have been behind the plan. The Sindh government has allegedly approved the cutting of nearly 1,400 trees that are part of the forest across Dolmen City in Clifton to earn revenue from advertisers. The government has granted permission to a well-known outdoor advertising company and there are fears that the trees may fall any time. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has earned six billion rupees by granting permission to advisers to set up billboards around the city.

The city forest stands on a three-acre piece of land in the Kehkashan KDA Scheme No 5, which was originally earmarked for the beautification of the city by the now defunct Karachi Development Authority. In 2008, the district government of Karachi planted approximately 1,400 trees in the said park, which has improved the aesthetics of the area, as well as its environment. The park is designed for the benefit of the general public and is not to be used for commercial advertising activity, or as a source of revenue.

Environmental degradation through air pollution is a major cause of respiratory diseases, causing cancer and emphysema in residents of urban settlements. Karachi, being the largest city of the country, has three million vehicles, according to the data collected by the taxation department. The citizens of the city must stand up and take matters in their hands. If any chopping of trees is witnessed in public, it should be immediately stopped.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2014.