By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Karachi is currently sizzling, serving as a stark reminder that the megacity needs a far greater number of trees as rising temperatures driven by climate change and heatwaves intensify, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor on Sunday.
Altaf Shakoor said that with temperatures steadily increasing and heatwaves becoming more frequent and severe, Karachi was facing a growing climate challenge that threatened public health, economic productivity and the overall liveability of Pakistan’s largest city.
PDP leader said that while global climate change was a major contributing factor, local environmental degradation and a declining green cover had further worsened the impact of extreme heat on millions of residents.
Shakoor noted that every summer Karachi experienced prolonged spells of high temperatures that placed immense pressure on vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, children, outdoor workers and low-income communities. He said heatwaves increased the risk of heatstroke, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses, while also driving up electricity consumption and placing additional strain on already burdened infrastructure.
Altaf Shakoor said that unlike many cities around the world, Karachi had limited open spaces available for large-scale parks and conventional afforestation projects. However, he stressed that this should not be treated as an excuse for inaction, adding that the city still held significant potential to expand its green cover through innovative urban forestry initiatives capable of reducing temperatures and improving environmental conditions.
He said one of the most promising opportunities lay along the corridors of the Lyari and Malir rivers. Despite environmental challenges, these river systems offered substantial space for the development of linear urban forests. He said large-scale plantations of native tree species along both riverbanks could create green corridors stretching across the megacity, helping to reduce urban temperatures, improve air quality, stabilise soil and provide recreational spaces for surrounding communities.
He added that transforming the Lyari and Malir river belts into urban forests would not only strengthen climate resilience but also support broader environmental restoration efforts. Such initiatives, he said, had successfully revitalised neglected urban waterways in several countries and could serve as a model for Karachi’s sustainable development.
Equally important, he said, was the protection and expansion of mangrove forests along Karachi’s extensive coastline. Mangroves, he noted, were among nature’s most effective climate buffers, absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide, protecting coastal communities from erosion and storm surges, supporting marine biodiversity and helping moderate local environmental conditions.
He said Karachi was fortunate to possess one of the region’s largest mangrove ecosystems, yet these natural assets continued to face pressure from pollution, encroachment and unsustainable development. Strengthening mangrove conservation and launching large-scale plantation campaigns along suitable coastal areas, he said, should be treated as a strategic environmental priority, with long-term environmental, economic and climate benefits.
He further said Karachi urgently required a comprehensive roadside tree plantation programme. Thousands of kilometres of roads, streets, service lanes and medians offered opportunities for planting shade trees that could directly benefit residents. Tree-lined streets, he said, reduced surface temperatures, provided shelter for pedestrians, improved air quality and enhanced the visual character of urban neighbourhoods.
He noted that many parts of Karachi had witnessed a gradual loss of mature trees due to road expansion, commercial development and inadequate maintenance. Reversing this trend, he said, required a long-term commitment to preserving existing trees while expanding plantation efforts across residential, commercial and industrial areas.
He said urban forestry should be seen not merely as an environmental initiative but as essential infrastructure for a city increasingly exposed to extreme heat. Just as Karachi invested in roads, bridges, water supply and energy systems, it must also invest in green infrastructure that protected public health and strengthened resilience against climate change.
The PDP chairman said a coordinated strategy involving government agencies, local authorities, environmental organisations, businesses and community groups could help transform Karachi into a greener and more climate-resilient metropolis.
Urban forests along the Lyari and Malir rivers, expanded mangrove plantations along the coastline and extensive tree-lined roads, he said, could collectively form a green shield against rising temperatures. As temperatures continue to rise, Karachi, he said, could ill afford to ignore the value of trees. Investing in green cover today, he concluded, was an investment in a cooler, healthier and more sustainable future for generations to come.
