ISLAMABAD: The Rawal Lake park site has lost 50 per cent of its tree cover over the last two decades, according to images shared by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).
The images compare the densely covered Lake View Point in 2004 with the extensive anthropogenic activities witnessed up to 2024. The stark difference highlights Islamabad’s environmental degradation, driven by unplanned urban expansion.
The images also show a change in the colour of water in the dam, from greenish in 2004 to a blackish shade two decades later.
While some environmentalists argue that the darker shade of water could be due to algae, they also point to the impact of large quantities of sewage flowing into Rawal Dam from upstream areas and surrounding settlements over the years.
Suparco images highlight environmental degradation amid urban expansion and pollution concerns
