LAHORE; A 150-year-old banyan tree, regarded as a symbol of Lahore’s natural and historical heritage, has been cut down in the Cantonment area — a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from environmentalists and residents as the city grapples with severe smog.
According to locals, the giant tree had been a vital part of the neighborhood for generations, offering shade, shelter to countless birds, and cleaner air. “It was a living landmark — a tree that gave life to its surroundings,” said one resident, expressing grief over its loss.
Environmental experts warned that removing such mature trees in a city already suffocating from pollution would further degrade air quality. “Each old tree in Lahore is irreplaceable. No plantation campaign can make up for the ecological value of such heritage trees,” one expert emphasized.
They described the felling as not only an environmental tragedy but also a cultural loss, erasing a part of Lahore’s historic identity. Experts urged city authorities and the Cantonment administration to enforce stricter laws for the protection of heritage trees and impose penalties for their unlawful removal.
