Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has ordered the registration of cases against those involved in illegal tree cutting across the city. The decision came after reports highlighted rising incidents of trees being chopped down in different areas.

The mayor directed the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) horticulture department to identify those responsible and ensure legal cases are filed against them. He said cutting trees is a crime and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

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“Tree cutting is a crime, and no one will be allowed to remove the environment-friendly trees,” Murtaza Wahab said. He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone involved in cutting trees on roads managed by the KMC.

The mayor said the city administration is actively promoting tree planting to improve Karachi’s environment. He added that urban forests are also being developed in parks that fall under KMC’s control.

Following media reports about tree cutting, a KMC spokesperson rejected claims that the city authority was involved. The spokesperson said KMC had already informed the police about the incidents.

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“Trees have been slashed without permission from the KMC,” the spokesperson said. KMC clarified that those cutting trees in Gulshan Iqbal were not its staff and said the letter circulating online belonged to Gulshan Town, not the KMC.