Authorities in Lahore Cantonment are facing widespread criticism after a decades-old banyan tree was felled during the city’s peak smog season. Civil society members, environmental activists, and legal experts have condemned the move as both unlawful and irresponsible, particularly as Lahore continues to battle hazardous air quality levels.
The banyan tree, believed to be around 150 years old and considered part of the city’s living heritage, was cut down near a commercial area in the Cantonment. Activists say the tree was removed, reportedly following complaints from a nearby bakery, which claimed the branches were obstructing customer parking and visibility. The Cantonment Board staff are said to have carried out the removal.
Advocate Usama Khawar Ghumman, who highlighted the matter publicly, stated that the tree posed no risk to public safety nor did it block any road or private property in a manner that warranted removal. He stressed that the action violated multiple binding directives issued by the Lahore High Court, which require prior approval from the Parks and Horticulture Authority before any tree can be removed for development or commercial convenience.
In peak smog season 150-year-old #Banyan tree — a living piece of Lahore’s heritage — has been cut down by Lahore Cantt @LahoreBoard reportedly on Rahat Bakery’s complaint cuz it blocked “customer parking.” This act is illegal & violates Lahore High Court orders protecting trees pic.twitter.com/H2xwaPm0N4
— Usama Khawar Ghumman (@UsamaKhawar) October 26, 2025
“There are several clear orders prohibiting such acts without lawful permission. This is a violation of judicial directions and is grounds for contempt proceedings,” he said. Ghumman added that civil society groups intend to take legal action under the Lahore Bachao Tehreek, an initiative advocating for environmental protection and heritage preservation across the city.
Punjab’s Assistant Advocate General Hassan Ijaz Cheema also described the tree felling as unlawful and confirmed that the issue will be brought before the court. He noted that the matter reflects a broader concern over the continued disappearance of old trees in urban Lahore, a trend environmental groups have long warned is worsening air pollution and eroding the city’s natural identity.