Pakistan has been awarded shield in appreciation for its outstanding efforts taken for environment protection and rehabilitation and protection of ozone layer. Federal Climate Change Minister Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed Khan on Saturday received the shield from Gul Najam, United Nations Development Programme's Assistant Country Director for Environment and Energy.
Gul Najam told the Minister that the Montreal Protocol on substances that depleted the ozone layer was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere. "The Protocol includes a unique adjustment provision that enables the Parties to the Protocol to respond quickly to new scientific information and agree to accelerate the reductions required on chemicals already covered by the Protocol. The adjustments are then automatically applicable to all countries that ratified the Protocol", he said.
Joint Secretary of International Co-operation at the Ministry, Muhammad Ashraf said, "During last two-decade, scientists in different countries have expressed their serious concern over depletion of the ozone layer, protection of which is essential for the life on earth."-PR