Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) in collaboration with Diabetes Association of Pakistan and University of Karachi organized a program on health and economic consequences of sugary sweetened beverages and ways to prevent them in a local hotel in Karachi. Among the guests were Munawar Hussain, Consultant of Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Dr. Ghufran Saeed, Assistant Professor of Department of Food Sciences and Technology from University of Karachi, Secretary General of Diabetes Association of Pakistan, Professor Abdul Basit, representatives of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority, Sindh Food Authority, Baqai Institute, PCSIR, civil society, health professionals and many people from media participated.
Addressing the event, Panah Secretary General Sanahullah Ghumman said that Pakistan National Heart Association has been educating people about heart and related diseases for the past 40 years and the causes that lead to these diseases. Panah is also working with the government to make laws and policies to prevent these diseases so as to give a healthy life to our countrymen and especially children because a healthy nation is the guarantee of a country’s strength. Today’s program is also a link in the same chain. Today we will talk about one such harmful thing i.e. sugary drinks which is one of the main causes of many diseases like heart, obesity, diabetes. Today we will talk about the policy options that we can follow to reduce their consumption and prevent diseases. He emphasized on the coordination of all the stakeholders working to prevent these diseases and said that by this we can more effectively convey our voice to the policy making institutions and together we can create a healthy Pakistan for the coming generation.
Secretary General of Diabetes Association of Pakistan Professor Abdul Basit said that sugary drinks are drinks that contain extra sugar. According to the World Health Organization, consumption of added sugars should be less than 10% of total calories. Excessive consumption of these sugary drinks poses great risks to the health of children and adults in particular. One of the main reasons for the increase in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other diseases is sugary drinks, and because of the high consumption of these sugary drinks, today Pakistan ranks third in diabetes in the world and the rate at which it is increasing, Pakistan is at the first place in the world. Due to the high consumption of these drinks, not only these diseases are increasing rapidly, but the health burden of the government is also increasing. Pakistan’s annual expenditure on preventing diabetes alone is estimated at more than 2640 million US dollars.
Assistant Professor Dr. Syed Muhammad Ghafran Saeed from University of Karachi said that one of the major reasons for the rapid increase in diabetes, obesity, heart and related diseases is the use of ultra-processed foods and sweet drinks. If we want to come out of this dangerous situation, the government will have to make such policies which will reduce the use of these hazardous health items and especially keep these items away from the reach of children.
Munawar Hussain, Consultant of Health Advocacy Incubator, said that the world has taken some effective measures to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and protect people from their harm, we should also benefit from these measures. Among the measures that the world has taken for this, awareness of the harms of these drinks as well as increase in taxes on them is the first and most effective weapon. Along with this, marketing restrictions, front of pack labeling and warning signs and school food policy are included. The countries that implemented them not only reduced the burden of disease in their country but also increased the revenue of the government. When Saudi Arabia increased the 50% tax on soda and 100% tax on energy drinks, there was a 41% decrease in soda consumption and a 65% decrease in energy drink consumption. Similarly, Qatar, Chile, Maldives and many other countries have not only reduced health burden but also increased revenue by taking appropriate policy actions to reduce diseases in their countries. He spoke about the health contribution bill, how it will help in reducing the consumption of sugary drinks, reduce diseases and increase the revenue of the government. Representatives of Sindh Food Authority and Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority also addressed the event. Hasna Khattak. Media Coordinator
