IHC halts tree cutting on Islamabad avenue

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from cutting trees along Ataturk Avenue, from Express Chowk to Aga Khan Road, while seeking responses from the authority and other concerned parties.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the order during a hearing of a petition filed by Ayesha Muzaffar, who challenged the ongoing tree cutting linked to a road expansion project in the federal capital.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the CDA’s actions violated a prior court order issued on January 15, 2026, which had already restrained tree cutting in Islamabad. The lawyer contended that the authority’s approach to addressing traffic congestion by widening roads at the cost of green cover was unsustainable.

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The court was informed that the project involved the removal of more than 55 large trees along with dozens of smaller ones. The petitioner’s counsel emphasised that eliminating trees to ease traffic flow was not a viable long-term solution and could worsen environmental challenges.

Concerns were also raised regarding inconsistencies in government policies. The counsel pointed out that while environmental levies are being imposed on fuel in the name of conservation, significant funds are being allocated to projects that harm the environment.

After hearing arguments, the court directed the CDA to immediately halt tree cutting along the specified stretch and issued notices to all respondents, seeking replies by next Tuesday.

The case is part of a broader concern over deforestation in Islamabad, where thousands of trees, including paper mulberry, have been removed in recent years, raising alarms about environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and deteriorating air quality.