ISLAMABAD - Pollen allergy has become cause of great concern among the Islooites during spring season, as every year from February to April, in the city and its suburbs, an epidemic breaks out called pollen allergy. The number of pollen allergy patients is swelling up in hospitals of the capital with every passing day as pollen count is on the rise thus adding to the miseries and sufferings of vulnerable individuals. This year too, with the arrival of spring season the number of patients is gradually increasing in public hospitals. Although with start of the allergy season all major public sector hospitals are claiming to provide every possible medical facility to the patients yet there seems no ending to the sufferings of the pollen allergy patients. While taking to TheNation Director General Environment Capital Development Authority Suleman Shah said "In spring season, every flower or tree sheds pollen that causes pollen allergy in capital but paper mulberry sheds more pollens as compared to other plants." It can be assumed easily that if paper mulberry is not the sole cause of pollen allergy it however contributes a lot in increasing pollen allergy he added. He said CDA had a target to remove all paper mulberry plants from the capital and in the next year we have set our target of making urban Islamabad free of paper mulberry plants. While in next phase the surroundings of Islamabad will be focused he added. The residents of the federal capital have been facing the problem for a long time and while taking in view all possible steps for reducing the intensity of allergy CDA has decided to eradicate paper mulberry that is considered as culprit plant, he added According to a health expert it is true that paper mulberry is not the only source of pollen allergy as pollens from other trees and flowers coupled with dust and fragrance contributes a lot to spreading allergy. If capital manages to get rid of 60,000 paper mulberry trees it can contribute a great deal in reducing intensity of pollen allergy in the spring season. Executive Director National Institute of Health Dr Barjees Mazhar Qazi when contacted said, "This season is considered as high transmission of pollen allergy as spring means blooming of flowers and which ultimately results in shedding lot of pollens that is the root cause of pollen allergy in Islamabad." He advised patients to adopt precautionary measures. "Pollen allergy patients must not venture outdoors before 11:00 am and after 5:00 pm, as the chances of pollen attacks are much higher in the morning and evening." "Pollen allergy varies from person to person and it can be controlled through three different approaches that are precautionary measures avoidance from pollen allergy, medication to reduce intensity of the allergy and the last one is injection treatments" he added. National Institute of Health is receiving a large number of patients as daily between 400 to 500 patients are being treated. In coming days it is being expected that pollen count will increase so thus patients number will double as well, said Dr Farida Ahmad, in charge of the allergy centre at the NIH.