Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) has said that the consumption of liquid sugar through sugary drinks has increased, that is why the cases of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing.
An important meeting was held between Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) and Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) to discuss dietary risk factors related to NCDs like heart diseases, diabetes and various types of cancers.
The meeting also debated various policy measures required to reduce these risk factors for the prevention of deadly diseases. The PANAH delegation was led by Sanaullah Ghumman, general secretary and director operations.
Munawar Hussain, consultant Food Policy Program at Global Health Advocacy Incubator also attended the meeting and presented lesson learnt and evidence gathered from various countries for reduction of consumption of sugary drinks and associated diseases.
Sanaullah Ghumman said that PANAH has been educating the people for the last 38 years to prevent them from deadly diseases. Sugar sweetened beverages are one of the major causes of obesity, heart diseases, diabetes and tooth decay.
Meetings were held with the officials of the Food Authority in the capital of each province. Friday’s meeting with the Balochistan Food Authority is also a link in the same chain.
He urged for increasing tax on sugary drinks instead of essential day to day items in the mini budget. Munawar Hussain, Consultant, Food Policy Program, briefed the members of Balochistan Food Authority on the harmful effects of sugary drinks.
He said the number of people living with diabetes has increased from 19 million to 33 million in Pakistan in just two years. This is an alarming situation and needs urgent policy measures to be put in place for the prevention of dietary risks.
He said increasing tax is an evidence based strategy to reduce consumption of sugary drinks and related diseases. Balochistan Food Authority supports all possible policy measures to reduce consumption of sugary drinks including increasing taxes on these drinks.
Shabbir Achakzai, Provincial Program Officer Nutrition and NFA from Ministry of Health also attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2022.
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