Govt urged to increase tax on sugary drinks

Meeting discusses steps to deter the increasing usage of soft drinks

RAWALPINDI:

Health professionals have suggested that the government immediately increase taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), which are a major cause of heart, obesity, diabetes, cancer and other deadly diseases.

The comments were given in a meeting chaired by Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) President Major General (retd) Masoodur Rehman Kayani, in which potential steps to deter the increasing usage of soft drinks along with other health concerns were discussed.

The health experts reasoned that researchers around the world have made it clear that if the consumption of anything needs to be discouraged, then increasing taxes on the products in question was a strong course of action to achieve this goal.

PANAH General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman said that Pakistan was plagued by deadly diseases, and one of the major reasons for this was the increasing consumption of unhealthy food and sugary drinks.

“PANAH has been struggling to raise awareness about heart diseases for the last 38 years,” said Ghumman. “We have to start thinking seriously; we have to take practical steps to prevent the spread of deadly diseases.”

Health professionals appreciated the efforts of PANAH by terming them commendable. However, they insisted that the primary responsibility for disease prevention lies with the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2022.