Tag: islamabad

Large-scale tree cutting across the federal capital, including Shakarparian, H-8 and Chak Shahzad, has triggered public anger, political debate and judicial intervention over transparency, process and intent while authorities defend the move as a health-driven campaign against paper mulberry.

As per the details, residents first raised alarms after noticing stretches of cleared land along Shakarparian Road, where rows of mature trees were chopped down, revealing exposed soil and ongoing digging.

While signboards promised “Greener and Healthier Islamabad” and “Indigenous Tree Plantation” under the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Environment Wing, commuters questioned why trees had already been removed.

The controversy reached the Parliament, where lawmakers from both government and opposition raised objections. Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Shazia Marri termed the cutting of trees in Shakarparian “very serious” while Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM-P) Dr Farooq Sattar questioned the removal of old trees due to construction. 

PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan said removing wild mulberry trees due to pollination was understandable but asked why “trees 40 to 50 years old were cut down”.

Responding in the National Assembly, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry rejected criticism, stating that only allergy-causing paper mulberry trees had been removed.

“Facts established that only specific categories of trees were removed, primarily paper mulberry,” he said, adding that trees were removed under development plans, infrastructure requirements or the removal of hazardous species.

یہ جعفر خان جمالی روڈ ہے۔ دو ماہ پہلے، یہ روڈ سرسبز درختوں سے بھرا ہوا تھا ۔ آج یہ گنجا اور گرد آلود ہے۔ سی ڈی اے نے یہ پارک پانچ سال پہلے H-8/4 سکولز زون کے 5000 سے زائد بچوں کے لیے بنایا تھا۔ یہ محفوظ سبز علاقہ تھا جو ایکسپریس وے اور جعفر خان جمالی روڈ کے درمیان واقع تھا۔ آج… pic.twitter.com/mthhI9a3n9

— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) January 12, 2026

Chaudhry claimed all projects followed due process, including public hearings and a review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

He said more than 40,000 mature trees had already been planted, with another 60,000 to be planted by March, and asserted that Islamabad was now “greener than before”.

Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik also defended the drive, citing scientific assessments.

“Pollen from paper mulberry affects 30 to 37 percent of Islamabad’s population,” he said during a field visit to Shakarparian, adding that the species was removed following a scientific identification process.

He directed CDA to plant three trees for every one removed and said penalties for environmental violations would be increased.

Meanwhile, a WWF-Pakistan report highlighted vegetation loss along the H-8 Islamabad Expressway, Margalla Enclave Link Road and Shakarparian, citing gaps in transparency, planning and monitoring. 

Climate policy advocate Dr Zainab Naeem said the issue was not removal but mismanagement, calling it climate misgovernance. Water expert Dr Hassan Abbas warned that large-scale tree cutting would affect groundwater recharge and temperature regulation.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has for now barred the CDA from further tree cutting and sought detailed reports from relevant authorities by the next hearing scheduled for February 2.

A three-year-old child died after falling into a sewer in Islamabad’s Sumbal area on Wednesday, officials have said.

According to a spokesperson for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, the incident occurred in an informal settlement built on encroached land. The spokesperson said a seweage pit had been dug in the area and left uncovered.

The child reportedly fell into the pit, resulting in fatal injuries.

Authorities said legal action is being initiated against those responsible for the excavation, adding that further investigation into the incident is under way.

Incidents of children falling into open sewers and manholes have been occurring frequently, raising concerns over public safety and urban infrastructure.

Recurrent incidents that occurred in the previous year follow an incident of a video of a young girl falling into an open manhole in Karachi.

The footage shows her falling in a manhole, local residents pulling her out and rinsing her off with water, before taking her away. 
 
 
According to the police, the video appears to be from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town. They also mentioned that an investigation is ongoing to identify who filmed it and when it took place.
 
 
A three-year-old boy, Ibrahim, fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, in November 2025.

His body was discovered 15 hours later in a nearby drain following a search by rescue teams and volunteers. Ibrahim ran ahead of his family, while visiting a store and slipped into the uncovered manhole.
 
 
Ibrahim’s incident prompted protests close to Nipa Chowrangi, with residents blocking roads leading to Hasan Square and the University of Karachi, demanding action from authorities. 
 
 
Protesters stated that their numerous warnings regarding open manholes had not received any attention or action.

A Chinese national has died after jumping from the rooftop of a residential building in Islamabad’s G-8 sector, police officials said on Wednesday.

According to authorities, the woman, identified as Wan Rou Ping, was in Pakistan on a tourist visa at the time of her death. She is said to have fallen from the building’s rooftop and suffered head injuries that resulted in her demise.

Police stated that the event took place within the G-8 residential precinct. Police were alerted shortly after the fall and arrived at the location to initiate preliminary procedures.

The woman’s remains were transported to a local hospital to undergo medico-legal processes. Hospital personnel confirmed that her injuries were consistent with a fall from a significant height. Police indicated that further examinations will be conducted as part of the ongoing investigation.

This incident follows another case in Islamabad, where a young Afghan refugee girl died after jumping from the fifth floor of her building in a residential structure.

Hundreds of Pakistani Christians took to the streets of Islamabad for a Christmas rally, celebrating the beginning of the holiday season as they walked alongside men dressed as Santa Claus riding camels.

The rally, which has become one of the most prominent Christmas celebrations in Pakistan in recent years, was covered by both local and foreign media outlets as participants described the event as a festive occasion and public demonstration of their faith in the heart of the capital.

Reports quoted one Arsalan Masih as saying that his community sees the event as a chance to recognise the support they receive during the holiday season.

“My heart is filled with gratitude. We are incredibly thankful to the government of Pakistan, the army, the police and all others for their support during our event,” he said as the procession advanced through Zero Point, a major traffic hub in Islamabad.

Another was quoted as saying that the rally was an annual event at the start of December.

“December has begun, and we are relishing our Christmas festivities. This is why we have initiated this rally, to honour our Lord and celebrate His birth, as He was born in December to bring salvation to the world. We are thrilled to enjoy December,” he said.

He noted that the event showcases the community’s sense of belonging in the capital. “Even as a minority, we have never encountered any barriers here in Islamabad.”

He said that the authorities aided the rally by managing traffic and allowing the procession to pass through one of the city’s busiest areas.

“You can see that today, we obtained permission to hold this rally from Zero Point, and the authorities are handling traffic and supporting us. It is remarkable that, despite being a minority, we are receiving substantial support,” he commented.

According to the 2023 census, Christians constitute less than 1.37 percent of Pakistan’s population. Majority of the population lives in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Islamabad has reported 52 new cases of dengue in a single day, leading federal health officials to implement emergency protocols. The Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal, has instructed officials to increase fogging operations throughout the city to curb further transmission.

The minister has ordered hospitals to establish dedicated wards for dengue patients and ensure a continuous supply of medications, diagnostic kits, and beds. He emphasized the necessity for public health facilities to be well-prepared for a potential rise in patients following the recent increase in cases.

Kamal mentioned that the government is coordinating measures to control the virus, which has surged after heavy rainfall created favorable conditions for mosquito breeding.

He pointed out that Bhara Kahu and other areas identified as high-risk are receiving prioritized surveillance, spraying initiatives, and precautionary actions. Public awareness campaigns are also being initiated to promote preventive measures at the community level.

The health minister urged district administrations to enhance sanitation efforts and eliminate stagnant water, which is a significant source of mosquito breeding for dengue. He encouraged citizens to adhere closely to the Ministry of Health’s preventive guidelines, such as covering containers with water and using mosquito repellents.

“The safety of public health remains the government’s utmost priority. We will employ all available resources to protect the population from epidemics and diseases,” Kamal stated, while calling on the media and civil society to assist with awareness initiatives.

The capital has experienced a consistent increase in dengue infections recently, reflecting patterns seen in other regions of the country where heavy rains have contributed to mosquito-borne illnesses. Health officials indicate that the disease presents a seasonal challenge, with cases usually rising during the monsoon season when water collects in urban and semi-urban environments.

A man abducted at the age of two has finally reunited with his parents after 32 years. 

Muhammad Asif, who was kidnapped in 1992 from the area around Bari Imam in Islamabad, said on the emotional moment:  “I only ever had one wish, to one day meet my parents.”

Social worker Waliullah Maroof, who frequently posts videos of cases pertaining to missing persons on social media to assist in reuniting families, made the reunion possible.  

He clarified that in many cases, such videos result in successful reunions.

Asif’s kidnappers changed his name from Muhammad Siddiq to Muhammad Asif. Recalling the ordeal, Asif revealed he was kidnapped by a woman who lived with her mother and three brothers in village near Sargodha called Jhanoria.

Another abducted boy, whom Asif described as being like an elder brother, told him that they had been kidnapped. 

The residents of Jhanoria eventually started to suspect something. He stated that people assumed they were kidnapped since they didn’t look like their “family,” and at that point the family left the village.

“We were not even aware that we had been abducted. However, we felt abandoned and frequently heard from others that we had been kidnapped.  I later ran away to Jhanoria again, around age 9 or 10, and ended up in the care of a kind lawyer who raised me and sent me to school,” he added.

Although not very interested in studies, Asif became an electrician, got married in 2017, and bought a home with his savings.

His journey toward reuniting with his parents began when he met someone at a goldsmith’s shop and shared his wish to find his parents.

That person connected him to social worker Waliullah Maroof. “He asked me for details and eventually made the connection with my real parents,” Asif said.

After a 32-year search, getting together again finally brought closure to the family and gave hope to many others who are still searching for their missing loved ones.

A section of the recently inaugurated Jinnah Square’s road in the federal capital has collapsed after the first monsoon rain of the season, leading to serious concerns over its construction quality.

According to reports, the Rs4.2 billion project completed in just 84 days had been boasted by the government as a model of rapid development. However, the loop connecting G-5 to Aabpara near Serena Chowk on Thursday collapsed during rain, impeding traffic and raising safety concerns. 

“This is a cruel joke on taxpayers. If a multi-billion-rupee road can’t withstand a single spell of rain, it reflects alarming negligence,” said a commuter amid massive traffic disruptions.

While experts demand an independent inquiry into the structural integrity of the fast-tracked project amid serious doubts over its quality and oversight of the construction, Capital Development Authority (CDA) teams have reportedly started with emergency repairs on the washed away road.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and the CDA chairman have been called on by the public to launch a thorough investigation into the project and hold those responsible for any negligence or malpractice accountable.