Pakistan to Ban Ozone-Depleting Materials Starting 2025

In Pakistan, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presided over a meeting of the Cabinet Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which officially approved an immediate ban on the use of ozone-depleting insulation and foaming materials. These materials are polyol mixtures containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b), and the ban is based on environmental protection considerations.

The ban will officially take effect at the end of January 2025, at which point no new letters of credit (LC) will be issued for these materials, and all necessary legal and procedural requirements must be completed within two weeks.

In a report submitted to the ECC, the Ministry of Commerce emphasized the environmental hazards posed by the HCFC polyol mixtures used in the refrigeration, insulation, and foaming industries. Notably, many countries have banned these materials for decades, and environmentally friendly alternatives are already available in the global market. Pakistan's domestic industry has also largely shifted to these alternatives to minimize disruption to the industry.

Additionally, the ECC instructed the Ministry of Climate Change to collaborate with the Ministry of Industry to ensure adequate notice is provided to affected industries.