Editing IPCC:AR6/SRCCL/Chapter-3 (section)

==== 3.7.3.5 Pakistan ====

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The alien plants invading local vegetation in Pakistan include ''Brossentia papyrifera'' (found in Islamabad Capital territory), ''Parthenium hysterophorus'' (found in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces), ''Prosopis juliflora'' (found all over Pakistan), ''Eucalyptus camaldulensis'' (found in Punjab and Sindh provinces), ''Salvinia'' (aquatic plant widely distributed in water bodies in Sindh), ''Cannabis sativa'' (found in Islamabad Capital Territory), ''Lantana camara'' and ''Xanthium strumarium'' (found in upper Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces) (Khan et al. 2010 <sup>[[#fn:r1665|1665]]</sup> ; Qureshi et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1666|1666]]</sup> ). Most of these plants were introduced by the Forest Department decades ago for filling the gap between demand and supply of timber, fuelwood and fodder. These non-native plants have some uses but their disadvantages outweigh their benefits (Marwat et al. 2010 <sup>[[#fn:r1667|1667]]</sup> ; Rashid et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1668|1668]]</sup> ).

Besides being a source of biological pollution and a threat to biodiversity and habitat loss, the alien plants reduce the land value and cause huge losses to agricultural communities (Rashid et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1810|1810]]</sup> ). ''Brossentia papyrifera'' , commonly known as Paper Mulberry, is the root cause of inhalant pollen allergy for the residents of lush green Islamabad during spring. From February to April, the pollen allergy is at its peak, with symptoms of severe persistent coughing, difficulty in breathing, and wheezing. The pollen count, although variable at different times and days, can be as high as 55,000 m <sup>-3</sup> .

Early symptoms of the allergy include sneezing, itching in the eyes and skin, and blocked nose. With changing climate, the onset of disease is getting earlier, and pollen count is estimated to cross 55,000 m <sup>–3</sup> (Rashid et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1670|1670]]</sup> ). About 45% of allergic patients in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi showed positive sensitivity to the pollens (Marwat et al. 2010 <sup>[[#fn:r1671|1671]]</sup> ). Millions of rupees have been spent by the Capital Development Authority on pruning and cutting of Paper Mulberry trees but because of its regeneration capacity growth is regained rapidly (Rashid et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1672|1672]]</sup> ). Among other invading plants, ''Prosopis juliflora'' has allelopathic properties, and ''Eucalyptus'' is known to transpire huge amounts of water and deplete the soil of its nutrient elements (Qureshi et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1673|1673]]</sup> ).

Although a Biodiversity Action Plan exists in Pakistan, it is not implemented in letter or spirit. The Quarantine Department focuses only on pests and pathogens but takes no notice of plant and animal species being imported. Also, there is no provision for checking the possible impacts of imported species on the environment (Rashid et al. 2014 <sup>[[#fn:r1674|1674]]</sup> ) or for carrying out bioassays of active allelopathic compounds of alien plants.

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