The summer heat in this city can soar above 40°C any day, and shade is a way of life, not just a decoration. It is infrastructure. It's the difference between a street vendor falling over in the open sun, versus a street vendor who can sit, even for a few moments, under a canopy of leaves. In the Islamic tradition, planting that tree has a meaning much deeper than the shade itself; it is a Sadqa Jariyah, a charity that is ongoing and that continues to produce benefits throughout the tree's life and continued existence.
One of its ongoing programs, Saylani Welfare International Trust, has established that tree donation Pakistan programs are not environmental programs, but are acts of worship and that they have measurable life-saving effects.
Why is this need more urgent than ever in Pakistan's Cities?
Climate change is making the urban centres of Pakistan dangerously hot, not only because of the abstract climate change, but also because of the loss of green cover. Karachi, which is one of the most populated cities in the world, is one of the least tree-covered cities, too. Nationwide, approximately 13,000 trees were removed from significant residential neighborhoods of the city between 2011 and 2016 for urban development projects. Lahore has a similar tale: Biodiversity studies in recent decades indicate that the green cover in the city has decreased by 72 percent while its average temperature level has increased by 1.5°C in the last two decades.
This tree loss also contributes directly to the urban heat island effect: The urban forest absorbs and radiates a lot less heat than concrete, asphalt, and buildings do, and makes the urban area significantly warmer than the surrounding rural areas. The fallout isn't hypothetical. Street vendors, labourers, rickshaw drivers, and children playing in unshaded courtyards are at high risk of suffering from heat-related illness, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke due to the lack of shade during the day.
The scientific evidence of what trees can do is solid. When the temperature of the air falls due to shade, it lowers the actual temperature by 4-5 degrees Celsius, regardless of whether it is from trees or any other source. In this regard, trees with tall vertical crowns and uniform cover are especially good, as they prevent direct sunlight, while the evapotranspiration process releases moisture, which lowers the temperature in the surrounding air. In less densely populated urban settings, such as Singapore and Tokyo, areas with dense vegetation have been found to have up to 4°C difference in temperature relative to nearby streets.
This doesn't amount to a trivial gain in a nation where heatwaves are becoming more intense, more frequent, and more lethal. It is a low-cost, no-electricity, no-fuel public health intervention.
Tree Planting Saylani Welfare Campaign
This initiative was formally made a tree planting Saylani Welfare campaign, where donations can be made specifically for Sadqa Jariah tree plantation throughout Pakistan. The donor is informed simply what their gift will do: trees that will help improve air quality, fight climate change, and have a lasting impact on the environment for generations to come.
This effort has also grown to more extensive cooperative initiatives. In late 2025, Saylani Welfare Trust (SWT) entered into a joint environmental campaign with Pakistan Railways, the Social Forestry Division, Alkhidmat Foundation, and Community Policing Karachi, which involves the planting of 50,000 trees and was formally introduced through the planting of saplings in Drigh Road Railway Station in Karachi. The scale of such partnerships is important as the level of greening required to substantially reduce the urban heat island effect of a city like Karachi is simply too large to be achieved by any single organisation working alone; it must be coordinated and implemented on a large scale with planting in public land, transport corridors, and residential areas.
The Dual Reward: Sadaqah Jariyah and Climate Resilience
Tree-planting donations are unique in that they offer both spiritual and practical advantages. A donor who contributes to a sadaqah jariyah plantation project benefits his or her faith and the environment. The benefits received by a donor last for decades with these contributions. Tree planting for communities brings long-term advantages of a cleaner environment, cooler air, and shade, and, as a type of charity, is one of a kind.
There are various ways to get involved in donation online in Pakistan. There are a number of methods with which you can get involved in donation online in Pakistan.