Although the global phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have helped protect the ozone layer, South Asia’s extreme smog, which is worsening each winter, is appearing to be the latest challenge to the ozone shield.
Coinciding the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, being observed on Thursday, Pakistani environmental researcher Farieha Hussain called on India and Pakistan to cooperate to reduce the toxic blanket of smog – coming from vehicle exhaust, coal-burning power plants, trash incineration, brick kilns and farmers’ burning of post-harvest rice stubble.
“Instead of blaming each other all the countries in our region should contribute towards saving the ozone and adapting more eco-friendly approaches in agriculture and industrial departments as we cannot put barriers on pollutant particles which travel through the air,” she said.
To detect and prevent usage of harmful chemicals by industrial units that affect the ozone layer, Pakistan has procured and set up air quality monitors in the city of Lahore, the country’s second-largest city.
