The Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, today briefed the Senate Standing Committee, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, on the Paper Mulberry Management and Ecological Restoration in Islamabad Capital Territory, aimed at mitigating Islamabad’s severe seasonal pollen crisis.
The Minister of State highlighted that the invasive Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), a non-native species introduced between the 1960s and 1980s, now accounts for approximately 94 percent of Islamabad’s total pollen burden.
Islamabad has faced a critical pollen crisis for more than two decades, with total pollen counts reaching an unprecedented 82,000 grains per cubic meter in 2022. The Minister of State informed the Committee that Paper Mulberry pollen poses exceptional health risks due to its lightweight particles, which penetrate deep into the lungs and trigger severe allergic rhinitis, acute asthma exacerbations, and life-threatening status asthmaticus.
Terming the initiative a vital public health intervention, the Minister of State stated that the ecological restoration programme is projected to reduce respiratory allergies in the capital by over 40 percent, significantly easing the seasonal burden on hospitals and emergency departments.
Data from the NIH Allergy Center was shared with the Committee, demonstrating measurable progress. Late-year allergy cases declined from over 2,300 in 2023 to 1,031 in 2025 following targeted uprooting, while overall allergy prevalence decreased from 45.8 percent in 2023 to 33.3 percent in 2025, indicating a reduced per-capita risk despite population growth.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, Minister of State, explained that, to prevent aggressive resprouting, the Ministry in coordination with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is implementing a strict three-step eradication protocol involving cutting, complete uprooting of the root system, and soil compaction. Of the approximately 80,000 Paper Mulberry trees identified for removal across Islamabad, 29,115 have been cleared to date, with priority given to high-density areas including F-9 Park and Shakarparian.
The Committee was further informed that ecological restoration remains central to the initiative. Under a 3:1 restoration policy, three indigenous trees are being planted for every Paper Mulberry removed. By April 2026, approximately 90,000 native trees, including Kachnar, Amaltas, Desi Toot, and drought-resilient Pilkan, will have been planted to restore the capital’s natural ecosystem. The initiative is supported through public-private partnerships, with contributions from OGDCL, MIRA Power, and Beaconhouse.
The Minister concluded by noting that the initiative aligns Islamabad with international best practices in urban environmental health governance, as adopted in countries such as the United States and Australia, and expressed the hope that, by April 2026, the project would be completed in accordance with approved technical protocols, including full ecological restoration through the plantation of indigenous species. He further noted that the successful implementation of the programme is expected to result in sustained control of seasonal pollen levels and a measurable reduction in pollen-related allergic and respiratory illnesses in the federal capital.
