Islamabad was once famous for its lush greenery. Now, many trees are cut down for new roads and military buildings. The city, built in the 1960s as a green city with parks and tree-lined streets, is losing its charm. Residents are worried. Muhammad Naveed filed a court case this year against "large-scale tree cutting". He said authorities cut "many mature trees" and left the land barren. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) blames major construction projects for destroying trees and natural plants. From 2001 to 2024, Islamabad lost about 14 hectares of tree cover, equal to 20 football fields, says Global Forest Watch. Kamran Abbasi, a trader living here since the 1980s, said, "They are cutting trees everywhere. It is not the same anymore. Trees are life. Thousands are cut to build one bridge." Air quality is also worsening. Plants help clean air by filtering pollution. Muhammad Ibrahim from WWF-Pakistan said, "Forests act as powerful natural filters… cleaning the air and water, and reducing the overall impact of pollution." Last month, almost no day was safe to breathe in Islamabad, according to IQAir. Some trees are cut to reduce pollen allergies, mostly from paper mulberry trees planted long ago. Abdul Razzaq from the Capital Development Authority said, "The main reason is pollen allergy. People suffer from chest infections, asthma and severe allergic reactions. I do too." The government plans to cut 29,000 pollen-producing trees. But critics say this is just an excuse to cut more trees for military and other projects. Recently, heavy machines have cleared green areas near highways. WWF and officials say some land is for monuments marking last year’s conflict with India and other military uses. A government source told AFP, "We know trees are being cut for military-related projects, but there is not much we can do. The people in power, the military, can do whatever they want." The ongoing court case by Naveed argues, "If a monument is deemed essential, why was it not placed in any existing park or public place?" Authorities say roads and projects follow rules made in 1992. The military did not respond to questions from AFP. The fate of Islamabad’s green spaces hangs in balance as construction pushes forward.