'Not a single tree' will be cut down to upgrade Islamabad's F-9 Park, interior minister assures residents

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday assured the residents of Islamabad that “not a single tree” will be cut down during the planned upgradation of the city’s F-9 Park.</p> <p>In a post on X, the minister shared an Instagram video of an Islamabad resident requesting that if the park were to be developed, more greenery be planted instead of concrete buildings.</p> <p>In his response, Naqvi recognised that F-9 Park — also known as Fatima Jinnah Park — “holds a special place in the hearts” of Islamabad residents and clarified that no trees would be removed in the process of developing the park.</p> <p>“Let me make it absolutely clear that not a single tree will be cut, 100 per cent guaranteed,” he said. He further vowed that there would be “no new concrete structures”.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/MohsinnaqviC42/status/2114284998543192446'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MohsinnaqviC42/status/2114284998543192446"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Instead, the planned upgrades included “better lighting, a beautiful lake, coffee shops, improved walkways” and the plantation of “thousands” of more trees in the park, the interior minister added.</p> <p>“Our only goal is to make F-9 Park greener, safer, more beautiful, and more enjoyable for families and visitors,” he said.</p> <p>Naqvi has previously shared plans to upgrade and improve recreational facilities around Islamabad, working with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.cda.gov.pk/cdaImagesGallery/islamabad-on-the-path-to-transformation-mohsin-naqvis-vision-for-a-developed-beautiful-clean-green-and-economically-vibrant-capital">create</a> a “more developed, clean, green, beautiful, safe, environmentally sustainable and citizen-friendly capital” while enhancing its tourism potential.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/CDAthecapital/status/2109213764705021983'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/CDAthecapital/status/2109213764705021983"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>In April, he <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1996208">sought</a> a comprehensive plan for transforming F-9 Park on the model of London’s Hyde Park, and for developing recreational facilities near Shahdara Dam.</p> <p>However, development projects in the historically green city have not always been favourably received by residents, inciting concerns particularly over deforestation and clearance of land for residential areas.</p> <p>At the start of this year, a large-scale <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1965310/massive-tree-cutting-leaves-shakarparian-bald-barren">tree removal drive</a> took place in at least three locations in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), including around the Shakarparian area, sparking widespread public criticism.</p> <p>The CDA maintained that only <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://innocentiemangonipiante.it/en/broussonetia-papyrifera/">paper mulberry</a> trees were removed as they had been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1877018/wild-mulberry-trees-to-be-cut-across-capital-pms-coordinator"><u>causing pollen allergies</u></a>, and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1966733">assured</a> lawmakers that a greater number of trees would be planted in the coming months.</p> <p>In 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) took notice of the removal of trees in F-9 Park and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1817650">restrained</a> the CDA from cutting trees in the area. The CDA, in response, told the SC that about <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1818991">7,000</a> paper mulberry trees had been cut down because they caused allergies.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.