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At a seminar conducted by the University of Karachi’s botany department, specialists highlighted their concern over the city’s escalating environmental deterioration, which is mostly the result of ill-planned construction projects.
The speakers notably mentioned the development of housing societies, which are causing the loss of forests and crucial habitats for animal species, according to reports.
Prof. Rubina Abid, chairman of the department, expressed concern for the extensive deforestation carried out in the name of urbanisation and industrialization, and emphasised the significance of human activities in environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
Although she didn’t mention any specific projects, the concerns of experts regarding large-scale projects like Bahria Town Karachi, DHA City, and Malir Expressway within the city resulted in widespread tree destruction, as well as the underwhelming role of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency was also noted.
She emphasized the importance of plant conservation in protecting biodiversity, saying plants are the earth’s lungs and the first component of the food chain.
Furthermore, deforestation, soil erosion, salinity, and waterlogging were identified as major threats to the country’s biodiversity.
