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Islamabad's Rawal Lake park loses half of tree cover in two decades
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Environment & Climate

Islamabad's Rawal Lake park loses half of tree cover in two decades

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Rawal Lake park has lost 50% of its tree cover in two decades due to urban expansion and pollution.
  • Images from Suparco show a stark environmental degradation, including a change in the dam's water color and hazardous waste found along its shores.
  • Environmentalists and officials cite unplanned urban growth and sewage as primary causes, while recreational facilities have expanded significantly.

Islamabad's Rawal Lake park has suffered a dramatic 50% loss in tree cover over the past two decades, a stark indicator of the capital's environmental decline. Satellite images from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) reveal a significant transformation from 2004 to 2024, highlighting the impact of extensive anthropogenic activities and unplanned urban expansion.

It is one of the biggest drives this monsoon season.

— Dr Zaigham AbbasDirector of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) discussing plans for a large-scale seed ball planting initiative.

The visual evidence also points to a concerning change in the Rawal Dam's water quality, shifting from a greenish hue to a blackish shade. Environmentalists suggest this could be due to algae blooms, exacerbated by large volumes of sewage flowing into the dam from surrounding settlements. Further compounding these issues, a recent cleanup drive by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) uncovered hazardous materials, including discarded syringes and hospital waste, along the lake's shores, underscoring the severe pollution threat to the ecosystem.

Officials acknowledge the severity of the pollution. Dr. Zaigham Abbas, Director of Pak-EPA, confirmed that pollution is undeniably entering the lake. His agency plans a large-scale seed ball planting initiative this monsoon season to help mitigate the damage. A senior official from the Ministry of Climate Change described Islamabad's situation as a violation of ecological justice, noting that the polluted water negatively affects local fauna and flora.

Islamabad’s crisis is not merely a failure in urban planning but a violation of ecological justice and fundamental rights.

— senior officialA senior official in the Ministry of Climate Change commenting on the environmental situation in Islamabad.

The environmental degradation coincides with the expansion of recreational facilities at Lake View Park, which now includes numerous attractions like barbecue points, karting tracks, a golf club, and various entertainment parks, alongside substantial parking areas. Data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) indicates that Islamabad lost 14 hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2025, contributing to significant carbon emissions. GFW attributes 77% of this loss to deforestation, primarily driven by settlements, infrastructure development, and permanent agriculture.

The polluted water of Rawal Lake impacts the health of the surrounding fauna and flora.

— senior officialA senior official in the Ministry of Climate Change explaining the consequences of Rawal Lake's pollution.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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