Islamabad, Dec 6: Stakeholders have agreed to remove between 80,000 and 100,000 wild mulberry trees and limit the sale of parthenium plants at flower shops throughout Islamabad in response to the prime minister’s orders to manage pollen allergies in the federal capital.
The PM’s National Coordinator on Health, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharat, said that Islamabad is taking proactive steps to address pollen allergies. He emphasized that because of their abundance, wild mulberry trees are a major cause of allergies, according to environmental experts. Phased removal of these trees is part of the plan.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 wild mulberry trees are thought to exist; these will be cut down. As part of the allergy elimination campaign, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has already planted one million environmentally suitable trees to replace them, Dr. Bharat stated. In order to eradicate paper mulberry plants entirely by the middle of the year, he continued, the CDA intends to plant an extra 300,000 to 400,000 trees.
A stringent prohibition on the sale of parthenium plants in the city’s flower shops has been suggested, and special steps have also been taken to control allergies at F-9 Park. According to Dr. Bharat, respiratory allergies are significantly triggered by parthenium, a poisonous herb. In order to stop its use in floral arrangements, the Directorate of Municipal Administration has been directed to enforce this prohibition.
