WWF-Pakistan on Tuesday disputed the Islamabad authorities’ stance that only paper mulberry trees were removed in the capital, stating that the action was also linked to infrastructure development. Recently, large-scale tree removal took place in at least three locations in the federal capital, including acres of tree cover around Shakarparian. Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) has maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed as they had been causing pollen allergies , and earlier on Tuesday Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry assured lawmakers that more trees would be planted in the coming months. “WWF-Pakistan’s field assessments indicate that vegetation loss in the capital is not limited to Paper Mulberry management alone, but is also linked to infrastructure development in multiple locations,” the environmental body said on social media. “Beyond pollen and allergies, Islamabad’s recent tree removal reflects broader challenges in urban planning,” it added. Social media users and even some lawmakers have alleged that, besides paper mulberry, old indigenous trees were also chopped down. Responding to those queries in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Chaudhry explained there were “three possible reasons” for removing the trees: the presence of paper mulberry species; areas designated as brown zones in Islamabad’s Master Plan but commonly regarded as green until development began, including Embassy Road; and sectors also considered as green areas until they were built. “I am saying with utmost responsibility that no other species was removed,” he asserted, about the claims of other species besides paper mulberry being cut. In its Facebook post, WWF-Pakistan noted: “Urban trees play a critical role in soil stability, climate regulation, and biodiversity support. “Any tree removal must follow evidence-based planning, legal compliance, and clear restoration commitments to ensure long-term ecological balance,” it demanded. The environmental organisation also shared a report , dated Monday, that proposed a “science-based strategy for gradual removal and replacement of paper mulberry” in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The report, authored by WWF-Pakistan Director Forest Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, suggested targeted removal rather than eradication, ecological stump and root management, immediate replacement with native and naturalised species, and intensive post-plantation ecological management.