Are Islamabad’s Skies Burning Because of Imported Trees?

From pollen warfare to climate disruption—how CDA’s dangerous tree experiments are suffocating the capital.

They said it was for “beautification.”
They called it “urban innovation.”
But what if we told you that a single misguided decision—planting the wrong tree—could alter your weather, your air, your lungs… and maybe your life?

By: Ahmad Saghir - Islamabad

Islamabad, once hailed as Pakistan’s green crown and a model of natural urban design, is now gasping for breath—both figuratively and literally.

In recent years, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has introduced non-native, heat-adaptive trees like date palms into the city’s landscape, deviating from the indigenous flora that evolved naturally with the region’s semi-arid, temperate ecosystem. While visually striking, these trees come with environmental costs that the city is already starting to pay.

From Shade to Scorch:

Historically, Islamabad’s tree cover—comprising species like Sheesham, Amaltas, Kachnar, and Peepal—helped regulate microclimates, retain moisture, and invite rainfall. These trees aligned with the Pothohar region’s ecology and offered a buffer against rising temperatures.

But date palms?

They’re native to hyper-arid zones, like Sindh, southern Punjab, and the deserts of D.I. Khan. When introduced to a milder city like Islamabad, they do not contribute to transpiration, fail to retain groundwater, and worst of all, absorb and radiate more heat—turning avenues into urban heat islands.

As a result, Islamabad has recorded some of its hottest spells in recent years, a phenomenon closely linked with poor tree choices and increasing concrete urbanisation.

🤧 Flashback: The Pollen Disaster

Islamabad already faced one environmental health crisis due to poor ecological planning: the notorious “Paper Mulberry” (Jangi Shehtoot) disaster. Introduced from Holland during the 1960s, this tree produces excessive pollen during the spring season, leading to a surge in allergies, respiratory issues, asthma cases, and even pollen-related

According to a study by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS):

“More than 15% of the city’s population suffers from pollen-related diseases every year. This includes life-threatening asthma attacks caused by the male Paper Mulberry pollen explosion.”