ISLAMABAD: While 40pc adult Pakistanis are overweight and six out of 10 deaths are caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), policy decisions are required to curtail consumption of ultra-processed food and beverages, which are one of the major reasons of obesity and related diseases.

Health expert Munawar Hussain said that while speaking to participants of an event titled ‘Sweet drinks and ultra-processed food taxes’ organised by Pakistan National Heart Association (Panah) on Sunday.

He said that obesity was going to become a major problem of Pakistan in coming years if concrete steps would not be taken by the government at the earliest.

“Obesity is being observed even in a category of children under five years and things are getting complicated with passage of every day. Fact is that people especially children become addict to ultra-processed food and beverages and it become very difficult for them to quit them,” he said.

Pakistan must increase taxes on ultra-processed food, beverages, say experts

Mr Hussain, who is country coordinator at Global Health Advocacy Incubator, said that currently 33 million adult population was diabetic and another 11m were pre-diabetic.

“Pakistan [which is the fifth most populace country] has the third highest number of diabetics but in terms of percentage of population, Pakistan has the most number of diabetics in the world. The number of diabetics will reach to 62m by year 2045. The ultra-processed food is of low quality due to which its taste is enhanced through salt, fats and sugar. People feel uncomfortable when asked to quit them,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Hussain agreed that serving beverages have become a fashion in society but said that it would be much better if people start serving milk or green tea.

“People take cakes while going to houses of their relatives, I would suggest that to give fruits of same amount instead of cakes,” he said.

Need of ‘smart’ policies

Panah general secretary Sanaullah Ghumman said that amid the Covid-19 pandemic the maximum number of deaths, reported in a single day, were 195 but government led the campaign against Covid-19 and tried to give awareness to every citizen.

“According to our data everyday 2,100 persons die due to ultra-processed food and beverages but unfortunately no one is bothered about it,” he said.

He said that a person should not use more than 25gram sugar in a day but in Pakistan average use of sugar was 80grams.

“So far 18 countries have banned marketing of beverages just like tobacco and a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, have increased taxes on beverages up to 50 per cent to reduce diseases which were earlier prevalent in elderly people but now youngsters and children are becoming victim of them. World Bank also did a study for Pakistan and suggested that the diabetes can be reduced by increasing the tax on beverages,” Mr Ghumman said.

National Coordinator for Nutrition at the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Dr Khawaja Masuood Ahmed said that the health ministry was in full support of taking all policy measures to reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods.

“Taxes on sugary drinks are inadequate and need to be increased through an immediate window to change the policy. In addition, the ultra-processed products high in sugar, salt and fats need to be taxed,” he said.

The former chairperson of National Commission on the Rights of Child, and Panah vice president Afshan Tehseen Bajwa said, “Unfortunately, the ultra-processed food is cheap, and healthy diet like fruits and vegetables are costly, which have shifted the consumption trends in the favour of ultra-processed food.

“Taxing ultra-processed food will increase their prices, reduce its consumption and ultimately the chronic disease. Further, earmarking the collected revenue to subsidise fruits, vegetable and lentils will make them affordable for low income groups.

“This would be a smart policy by the government which may give several benefits to the people without having an additional cost.”

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024