Karachi urban forest project targets 100,000 saplings along Shahrah-e-Bhutto as the city pushes to improve air quality and create green zones across all seven districts

Karachi is planting its way toward a greener future. Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that the city’s Karachi urban forest project will plant 100,000 trees along Shahrah-e-Bhutto as part of a broader campaign to reduce air pollution and improve the city’s environment. Work is already underway. Furthermore, 10,000 trees have already gone into the ground along the route, giving the initiative real visible momentum.

The plantation drive is not random. Neem, gulmohar, and other native species are being prioritized along Shahrah-e-Bhutto. The Parks Department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation started work on the site around two months ago. Moreover, native plants take priority under the plan, ensuring the trees suit Karachi’s climate and soil conditions for long-term survival.

The mayor described the initiative as a significant milestone in efforts to improve Karachi’s air quality. He said the urban forest scheme would boost oxygen levels across the city. Furthermore, green zones around Shahrah-e-Bhutto will eventually expand to all seven districts of Karachi. Therefore, this is not a single-road project — it is the beginning of a citywide environmental shift.

Wahab also pointed to earlier plantation work as evidence of commitment. Neem trees have already been planted in Korangi under previous drives. Additionally, he urged citizens to support the campaign by planting saplings themselves, calling it an act of ongoing charity. Community participation, therefore, forms part of the strategy alongside government-led efforts.

Beyond trees, development work continues across multiple Karachi corridors including Baloch Colony Expressway, Korangi Causeway, and Taj Haider Bridge. Still, the urban forest project carries a different kind of significance. Finally, in a city that has long struggled with pollution and shrinking green spaces, 100,000 trees along its newest expressway is a statement worth paying attention to.