Islamabad is Getting Chocked by Concrete!

Islamabad, once considered the lungs of Punjab, is slowly losing its green identity and turning grey. Over the years, the city’s green belts have been encroached upon by both public and private organizations without facing any consequences. Commercial enterprises have taken over residential areas, while parking lots have replaced trees in open spaces. Meanwhile, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has largely turned a blind eye to these violations, often due to political influence and pressure from powerful lobbies.

Unplanned housing societies and slums are another growing menace, pushing Islamabad toward becoming a concrete jungle. Previously, Islamabad was the only city where there was no concept of slum areas but now there are several slums in the city due to negligence of authorities which have failed to take timely action against them. The areas in the outskirts of Islamabad which were earlier considered rural areas have now turned into full-fledged towns whose people lack basic necessities. Earlier places like Bhara Kahu and Frash Town were considered rural areas of Islamabad but now they are highly populated areas.

The mall craze is rapidly penetrating the capital. Once where trees stood are now replaced by concrete towers. Several development projects have started taking place in the areas like F-10, New Blue Area, Rawat and H-8. After every few days a new construction company is setting up camp here and have started erecting numerous towers for apartments and malls. These spaces were full of vegetation and home to diverse wildlife, but all of that is disappearing at an alarming rate.

Moreover, these malls are not really helping us, they will have those repetitive brands that all the existing malls already have. The relentless construction has led to a constant suspension of dust in the air, further deteriorating Islamabad’s air quality. Instead of prioritizing rapid urban expansion, the authorities should have focused on restoring vegetation and preserving the natural landscape—yet, unfortunately, that has not been the case. As a result, rising temperatures and worsening environmental conditions threaten the future of the city.

ISLAMABAD’S FUTURE IS TURNING GREY!

I truly hope that one day our authorities will look beyond profits and prioritize restoring the environment. Otherwise, our future generations will be left with nothing but concrete and no room to breathe!

Hamayal Salman , the writer is the member of Progressive Climate Foundation - PCF