M any cities around the world are known for their unique trees, which locals cherish and diligently maintain. In stark contrast, Karachi, my birthplace and residence, has seen rapid expansion with little regard for incorporating trees into its urban planning. This imbalance between infrastructure growth and greenery has significantly impacted the city.
In 1949, shortly after independence, Karachi was selected to be the capital. The Swedish firm MRV was commissioned to develop a master-plan. It included a green belt around the city as a buffer zone.
Unfortunately, this plan was never implemented, marking the start of declining visionary governance and the rise of political and speculative interests, often referred to as the Mafias of Karachi. Only recently have we begun to recognise the importance of trees. Often, trees that have taken decades to mature are chopped down for inadequate reasons, like obstructing the unsightly tangle of overhead cables.
The “tree-choppers” lack an understanding of the ecological and aesthetic damage they inflict. In contrast, major cities globally employ trained landscape personnel armed with appropriate tools, carefully trimming, pruning and shaping each branch much as an orthopaedic surgeon would deal with a human limb. Trees vary widely in their size, shape, foliage and ecological roles.
They transform urban landscapes throughout the seasons, unlike static man-made structures. Urban planners in many cities consider these characteristics wh.