Pakistan Cuts Ozone Depleting Substance Imports 50% under Montreal Protocol: Amin Aslam

ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): Pakistan has achieved another milestone in its environment friendly ambitions to protect the entire region and the globe from man-induced climate change and ecological degradation by reducing ozone layer depleting hazardous chemicals import by 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 imports of HCFC that cause the 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 35 years of the 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 ourself. 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 the Ozone layer life itself is getting affected due to harmful ultraviolet 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: firstly we converted all the technologies using Ozone depleting substances and secondly we contained the input of HCFCs (Hydro-chloro-fluoro-carbons) that cause the ozone layer to deplete.

The SAPM said that in the 1992 agreement Pakistan pledged to control 35 percent imports of the HCFC while it had achieved 50 percent and maintained over target performance in compliance with the Protocol. Pakistan, he said, remained committed to all internationally committed agreements and was a responsible partner among all international protocols especially Montreal Protocol in which it had exceeded its performance.

The Ministry of Climate Change has also established a National Ozone Unit (NOU) that was organizing 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 the Montreal Protocol (MP) in 1992. MP has universal ratification and is recognized as most successful protocol. Pakistan met all its obligations 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. Pakistan achieved 10 percent reduction targets of HCFCs on January 1, 2015. Pakistan achieved 50 percent reduction targets of HCFCs on January 1, 2020.

The compliance reporting to Ozone Secretariat was always on time. “Pakistan never exceeded the allowable import limit of HCFCs as strict compliance on import is being ensured through WeBOC system of FBR.”

The National Ozone Unit main activities included to regulate the import of Ozone Depleting Substances (presently HCFCs), raising awareness to stakeholders, training to servicing technicians, training to Customs Officials to control illegal imports.

The NOU processed and got approved conversion projects whereby industries were provided with machinery through Multilateral Funding which is environment friendly and energy efficient.

In the message of the NOU in connection with the World Ozone Day it said: “Pakistan is alive to changing situations in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector. Efforts are underway to promote new technologies in RAC sector.

Energy efficiency, safety and training of servicing technicians remains priority areas including ratification of Kigali Amendments and phasing down of HFCs.

All this remains high priority areas as it has strong impact on GHGs emissions thus strong linkage with nationally determined commitments (NDCs).”

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