Naqvi Guarantees No Trees Cut at F-9 Park
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has guaranteed that not a single tree will be cut at Islamabad’s F-9 Park. He gave the assurance on Sunday after residents raised concerns about plans to upgrade the capital’s largest green space.
Naqvi responded on X to a video shared by environmental activist and schoolteacher Usman. In the post, he left no room for doubt about the plan.
“Let me make it absolutely clear that not a single tree will be cut, 100% guaranteed. No new concrete structures,” Naqvi said.
He added that F-9 Park held a special place in the hearts of everyone living in Islamabad. The minister said the only goal was to make the park greener, safer, more beautiful, and more enjoyable for families and visitors.
F-9 Park Upgrade Plans
The planned improvements include better lighting, a lake, coffee shops and improved walkways, along with the plantation of thousands of additional trees. Naqvi announced the revamp on October 21, when he said F-9 Park would be renovated along the lines of London’s Hyde Park. He also said the government planned to develop four new parks in the capital.
F-9 Park is officially known as Fatima Jinnah Park. It spans around 400 acres, making it one of the largest green spaces in Islamabad. For many residents, it is a daily walking spot, a family picnic ground and a rare stretch of open land in a growing city.
Usman said in his video that the park mattered for the city’s environment and for coming generations. He said around 2.45 billion litres of rainwater fell on the park’s area each year before being absorbed into the ground and feeding groundwater reserves. He urged the authorities not to develop the park for the sake of development, and instead to plant more trees and introduce a wider variety of species to increase greenery and improve air quality.
“Instead of building huge structures here or turning it into a high-rise park, plant more trees,” Usman said.
Why Residents Raised Concerns About F-9 Park
The exchange comes after months of controversy over tree cutting across Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority removed more than 29,000 paper mulberry trees as part of a drive to address pollen allergies. The operation affected several areas, including F-9 Park, Shakarparian and parts of the city’s residential sectors.
The authority said the trees were removed on scientific and legal grounds and would be replaced with indigenous, environmentally suitable species. The large-scale felling drew criticism from environmental advocates and residents, who questioned the removal of mature trees and the effect of infrastructure projects on Islamabad’s green cover.
In a February response to the Islamabad High Court, the Ministry of Climate Change said prior approval was mandatory for tree cutting. It raised concerns that the operation had been carried out without the required consultation with environmental authorities.
F-9 Park has itself been at the centre of the controversy. The Capital Development Authority previously told the Supreme Court that about 7,000 paper mulberry trees had been removed from designated areas of the park in 2024. The authority said the operation was intended to reduce pollen allergies and would be followed by replantation.
Naqvi’s guarantee now sets a clear public test for the upgrade. Residents will watch whether the promised lighting, lake and walkways arrive without the loss of a single tree, and whether the thousands of new trees are actually planted.
What did Naqvi promise about F-9 Park?
Naqvi promised that not a single tree will be cut at F-9 Park, with a 100% guarantee, and that no new concrete structures will be built there. He said the upgrade will add lighting, a lake, coffee shops, walkways and thousands of new trees.
Why was F-9 Park in the news before this?
The park was at the centre of a tree-cutting controversy after the Capital Development Authority removed paper mulberry trees across Islamabad to address pollen allergies. About 7,000 such trees were removed from designated areas of F-9 Park in 2024, according to the authority.
What changes are planned for the park?
The government plans better lighting, a lake, coffee shops and improved walkways, plus thousands of additional trees. Naqvi announced the revamp on October 21, along with plans for four new parks in Islamabad.
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