World Ozone Day 2020: Pakistan cuts Ozone depleting substances import to 50%, says Amin Aslam

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has achieved another milestone in its environment friendly ambitions to protect the entire region and globe from man-induced climate change and ecological degradation by reducing Ozone layer depleting hazardous chemicals import to 50 percent.

These remarks were made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam in an exclusive interaction with APP. He said Pakistan had surpassed its pledged target under Montreal Protocol to contain 35 percent import of HCFC causing Ozone layer to deplete and controlled 50 percent of the total hazardous material import. In his message on the World Ozone Day, he said: “Today marks the 35 years of Montreal Protocol formation which Pakistan signed in 1992. World Ozone Day 2020 is being celebrated today worldwide including Pakistan. The day reminds us that the only thing that stops the earth from getting fried is the ozone layer. Lets act together to protect [Ozone Layer] it and protect ourselves. Happy World Ozone Day.”

Amin said the main purpose of this protocol was that the world was getting affected due to Ozone layer depletion that protects harmful ultraviolent rays from reaching the earth. “Due to breaching of Ozone layer the life itself was getting affected due to harmful ultraviolent rays,” he added.

Amin noted that this was one of the success stories as Montreal Protocol had become a success internationally which was implemented with a clear target, plan and financing available for conversion. In Pakistan, he said, we did two things one that we converted all the technologies using Ozone depleting substances and second we contained the input of HCFCs also Hydro-chloro-fluoro-carbon that cause ozone layer to deplete.

The Ministry of Climate Change had also established a National Ozone Unit (NOU) that was organising World Ozone Day seminar to highlight celebrations, Art competition on World Ozone Day theme, printed poster on the World Ozone Day theme and distributed to general masses and used to publish World Ozone Day supplement in daily newspaper on 16 September. It had also designed awareness material for distribution among the general masses, planned radio programme on the eve of Ozone Day and shared videos developed by UNEP on social media.

“Pakistan signed Montreal Protocol (MP) in 1992. MP has universal ratification and is recognized as most successful protocol. Pakistan met its all obligation as prescribed under MP.” The Ozone layer damaging chemicals CFCs, Halons and Methyl Bromide were phased out and banned since 31st December, 2009. Pakistan had launched its HCFCs phase out Management Plan (HPMP) in March 2011 which was under implementation.