The Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, briefed the Senate Standing Committee, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, on the Paper Mulberry Management and Ecological Restoration initiative in Islamabad, aimed at addressing the city’s severe seasonal pollen crisis.
Dr Malik highlighted that the invasive Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), introduced between the 1960s and 1980s, now accounts for nearly 94 percent of Islamabad’s pollen burden. Islamabad has faced critical pollen levels for over two decades, with counts reaching 82,000 grains per cubic meter in 2022. Paper Mulberry pollen poses serious health risks due to its lightweight particles, which penetrate deep into the lungs and trigger severe allergic rhinitis, acute asthma exacerbations, and potentially life-threatening status asthmaticus.
Terming the programme a vital public health intervention, Dr Malik said the ecological restoration project is expected to reduce respiratory allergies in Islamabad by over 40 percent, significantly easing seasonal pressure on hospitals and emergency services. Data from the NIH Allergy Center showed late-year allergy cases dropped from over 2,300 in 2023 to 1,031 in 2025, while overall allergy prevalence fell from 45.8 percent to 33.3 percent, demonstrating a reduced per-capita risk despite population growth.
Dr Malik explained that to prevent regrowth, the Ministry, in coordination with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), is following a three-step eradication protocol: cutting, complete uprooting of roots, and soil compaction. Of around 80,000 Paper Mulberry trees identified for removal across Islamabad, 29,115 have been cleared so far, prioritizing high-density areas such as F-9 Park and Shakarparian.
Ecological restoration remains central to the initiative. Under a 3:1 policy, three indigenous trees are planted for every Paper Mulberry removed. By April 2026, about 90,000 native trees—including Kachnar, Amaltas, Desi Toot, and drought-resistant Pilkan—will be planted to restore the city’s natural ecosystem. The initiative is supported through public-private partnerships with OGDCL, MIRA Power, and Beaconhouse.
Dr Malik noted that the programme aligns Islamabad with international best practices in urban environmental health governance, citing examples from the United States and Australia. He expressed hope that by April 2026, the project will be completed according to approved technical protocols, achieving full ecological restoration and sustained control of pollen levels, resulting in a measurable reduction in allergy- and respiratory-related illnesses in the capital.
