Ban demanded on ozone-depleters

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Environmental experts on Wednesday suggested a complete ban on the import of chemicals which damage the atmosphere’s protective ozone layer by all countries.

The Ministry of Environment Ozone Cell, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) jointly organised a regional workshop on the protection of ozone layer.

The workshop discussed licensing, capacity-building of customs authorities and enforcement of regulations, and each country shared their experiences of reducing the presence of ozone-depleting substances and agreed on strategies to phase out these chemicals in accordance with the Montreal Protocol.

Environment Secretary Javad Zafar said, “The Montreal Protocol, which serves to protect the ozone layer, is a successful environmental protocol and has given the international community the capacity to collectively deal with the problem of ozone depletion. It gives national governments access to credible and accurate information and provides technical assistance through a multilateral fund.”

Environment Parliamentary Secretary Bushra Anwar Sipra said the ozone damage is a threat to life on earth and the entire international community must work together to solve this problem. She said all countries should ensure the ban on imports of ozone depleting substances and formulate effective licensing and regulatory policy on ozone protection.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Lena Lindberg said awareness is needed to educate both consumers and producers on the alternatives to ozone depleting goods. This would bring a behavioural change within the production process and in spending patterns, she added.

Experts and government officials attended the workshop from environment ministries of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Korea, India, Thailand and Pakistan.

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