Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, briefed the Senate Standing Committee chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman on an accelerated campaign to tackle Islamabad’s severe pollen crisis driven by Paper Mulberry trees.
Officials told the committee that Paper Mulberry, introduced several decades ago, now contributes roughly 94 percent of the capital’s total pollen burden. Islamabad’s total pollen counts reached a record 82,000 grains per cubic metre in 2022, and health authorities warned that the light, deeply inhalable Paper Mulberry pollen is behind spikes in allergic rhinitis, acute asthma exacerbations and life‑threatening status asthmaticus.
Data shared from the NIH Allergy Center show measurable gains after targeted removals. Late‑year allergy cases fell from more than 2,300 in 2023 to 1,031 in 2025, and overall allergy prevalence declined from 45.8 percent to 33.3 percent over the same period, indicating a reduced per‑capita risk despite population growth. The Ministry projects that the ongoing Paper Mulberry removal and restoration programme will lower respiratory allergies in the capital by more than 40 percent, easing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.
To prevent aggressive resprouting, the Ministry and the Capital Development Authority are following a strict three‑step eradication protocol of cutting, complete uprooting of the root system and soil compaction. Of about 80,000 Paper Mulberry trees identified for removal across Islamabad, 29,115 have been cleared so far, with priority operations in high‑density sites including F‑9 Park and Shakarparian.
Ecological restoration sits at the heart of the intervention. Under a 3:1 restoration policy, three indigenous trees are being planted for every Paper Mulberry removed. By April 2026, roughly 90,000 native trees such as Kachnar, Amaltas, Desi Toot and drought‑resilient Pilkan will have been planted to rebuild Islamabad’s natural canopy and reduce future pollen loads.
The programme is being carried out through public‑private partnerships with contributions from OGDCL, MIRA Power and Beaconhouse, and is being presented to the Senate committee as a health‑driven environmental policy that aligns Islamabad with international best practices in urban environmental health governance. Authorities expect completion in accordance with approved technical protocols by April 2026, with sustained control of seasonal pollen levels and measurable reductions in pollen‑related allergic and respiratory illnesses once the planting and eradication cycles are complete.
