ایف بی آرتقریبات

Directorate General of Training &Research(Customs), Karachi – holds Train the Trainers workshop on Montreal Protocol Enforcement in collaboration with United Nations Environment Program and Ozone Cell, Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan.

Montreal Protocol was introduced in 1987 in consequence of Vienna convention of United Nations for protection of Ozone layer. Pakistan is signatory to the protocol which obliges all signatories to phase out a list of substances which are depleting the Ozone Layer. In this regard earlier the training activities were held in DGTR as part of national effort from 2004 to 2008 under RMP (Refrigerant Management plan) to create awareness on the initial phase out schedule for the ozone depleting substances (ODS) like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and allied materials. A pool of Trainers was then developed who subsequently imparted training to more than 250 customs officers and staff by holding workshops at DGTR Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. However these earlier trainings did not touch upon the phase out plan for Hydro Chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Now the phase out plan for CFCs has been already successfully achieved in 2010 and the United Nations Environment program (UNEP) has shifted focus on creating awareness on the new phase out plan for HCFCs. It was in this perspective that an international level Train the Trainer workshop was recently organized by the DGTR (customs) at Karachi with the active support of Ozone Cell, Ministry of Climate Change Islamabad in collaboration with United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) from 3rd to 5th September 2012. The training aimed at creating future Trainers not only from Pakistan Customs but also from allied agencies like Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Pakistan Frontier Corps, Pakistan Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (MSA) who work and cooperate with Pakistan Customs at various levels.

The workshop was designed to create a pool of Trainers for holding periodic workshops in collaboration with Ozone Cell Pakistan at all DGTR training facilities available at Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to bring awareness and skills for the effective management of the new phase out plan for HCFCs and allied ODS materials as Pakistan is going to implement its regulation and Enforcement from 2013.

B: Inauguration Ceremony on 3rd September, 2012- Auditorium of DGTR (Customs), Karachi

Keeping in view the international focus on the importance of the workshop a highly attended inauguration ceremony was held in DGTR (Customs) on 3rd September, 2012. Among audience were the trainee participants, resource persons from UNEP, representatives of Ozone cell and Senior Customs Officers from Customs House. Mr. Husnain Ahmad, Member (Administration) FBR, Islamabad graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The Director DGTR Ms. Rubina Wasti presented Mementos and Souvenirs to UNEP resource persons Ms. Kakuko Nagatani Yoshida, Mr. Amir Radfar and to Muhammad Asif Khan (Ozone Cell Islamabad) and Mr. Mosuf Ali (UNEP Karachi). A Memento and Souvenir was also presented to the Chief Guest.

C: Training Workshop:

The three day long workshop was held in the spacious theater located on 2nd floor of the magnificent old customs house building which now hosts the Directorate General of training. It was attended by 39 Trainee participants: 32 from Pakistan Customs, 2 from Pakistan Customs laboratory, 2 from Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and 1 each from Pakistan Frontier Crops, Anti Narcotics Force and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency. The workshop proceedings were mainly conducted by the resource persons from CAP team UNEP Bangkok Ms Kakuko Nagatani Yoshida and Mr. Amir Radfar; however various presentations were also made by the DGTR officers, Customs field officers, PSQCA and other persons. From DGTR Mrs. Rubina Wasti Director DGTR Karachi informed the audience in detail about training activities in DGTR and the follow-up training plan for Motereal Protocol. Mr. Abdul Majid Yousfani Additional director DGTR Karachi covered the IPR Management in Pakistan and Mr. Ihsan Ali Shah, Additional Director DGTR Karachi made presentation on classifications of ODS materials and ODS based equipment with reference to Pakistan Customs Tariff in the light of HS code amendments made in 2012 by WCO. He also acted as focal person and supervisor for organizing and overseeing all workshop proceedings and arrangements including conducting the stage on inauguration and closing ceremonies.

Closing Ceremony:

It was held in the afternoon of 5th September, 2012 in the Auditorium and was graced by the arrival of Mr. Atul Bagai, Senior Regional Coordinator, Ozone Action program UNEP, regional office for Asia and Pacific-Bangkok. Certificates of Participation were awarded by Mr. Atul Bagai , Mr. Mahboob Saqib Khan, Director General DGTR (Customs), Ms. Rubina Wasti, Director DGTR (Customs), Ms. Kakuko Nagatani Yoshida, Policy Enforcement Officer UNEP Bangkok and Mr. Amir Radfar Consultant, UNEP Bangkok. In the end Memento and Souvenir was presented to Mr. Atul Bagai by the Director General DGTR and the Director DGTR Karachi. Mr. Bagai also presented a Memento and Souvenir to DGTR on the occasion.