AWARENESS-RAISING CAMPAIGN FOR WORLD OZONE DAY – 2023 ARRANGED AT PROVINCIAL LEVEL

National Ozone Unit (NOU), Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) through its Institutional Strengthening (IS) component with UNDP organized an awareness raising campaign for World Ozone Day -2023 at provincial level. In this regard, 1^st event was organized on 5^th Sep 2023 in collaboration with NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi. 2^nd event was organized on 8^th Sep 2023 in collaboration with Baluchistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta and 3^rd event was organized on 26^th Sep 2023 in collaboration with Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi. The main event for World Ozone Day-2023 was celebrated on 16^th Sep 2023 in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Each event featured remarks from distinguished guests, technical presentations, and student-led interactive activities. Dr. Saleem Janjua, NPM, NOU delivered opening remarks outlining the campaign’s rationale, the significance of World Ozone Day 2023, and the provisions of the Montreal Protocol. He stressed academia’s pivotal role in phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and fulfilling international commitments through research and innovative projects. Vice Chancellors of the respective universities commended the initiative, recognizing ozone protection as essential to environmental sustainability and human survival. Participants and stakeholders from various departments and organizations collectively emphasized the urgency of ozone layer protection, ODS phase-out, and compliance with the Montreal Protocol. All government bodies were urged to strengthen and accelerate their contributions to environmental protection.