https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, May 29 (Alliance News): Health and policy experts, government officials, civil society representatives, and nutrition advocates gathered in Islamabad to push for the urgent implementation of Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) on packaged foods in a bid to tackle Pakistan’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The national round table consultation, co-hosted by Heartfile and the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), brought together stakeholders from federal and provincial health and food departments, food regulators, public health organizations, and academia.
The event emphasized that over 60% of all deaths in Pakistan are linked to NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and hypertension.
According to experts, poor dietary habits, particularly the rising intake of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, are a major contributing factor.
Speakers at the event criticized the current back-of-pack nutrition labels, calling them complex, hard to interpret, and ineffective in helping the average consumer make informed food choices.
In contrast, FOPWLs—simple, black octagonal warning signs displayed on the front of packaging—have shown global success, particularly in countries like Chile, Mexico, and Brazil, where they have led to a decline in the consumption of unhealthy food products and encouraged food manufacturers to reformulate their products to meet healthier standards.
Dr. Saba Amjad of Heartfile and Mr. Sana Ullah Ghumman of PANAH were joined by other experts in stressing the need for a scientifically grounded Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) to objectively determine which products require warning labels.
They urged the Pakistani government to adopt a broader set of evidence-based food and health policy reforms.
These include not only the immediate implementation of FOPWLs but also increased excise taxes on ultra-processed food and beverage products in the upcoming Finance Bill 2025–26, strict regulations on marketing to children, and a ban on unhealthy food availability in public institutions, particularly schools.
The experts emphasized that the current situation represents both a public health emergency and an economic threat.
Treating diet-related diseases puts an immense strain on the national healthcare system and leads to lost productivity and increased out-of-pocket health expenses for families, particularly those from low- and middle-income communities.
In addition to health impacts, participants highlighted the social and economic dimensions of diet-related diseases.
Poor dietary practices are contributing to the intergenerational cycle of poverty by affecting the cognitive and physical development of children, reducing educational outcomes, and increasing the financial burden on already struggling households.
The unchecked spread of ultra-processed foods, especially those aggressively marketed toward children and youth, was described as a growing national concern.
Several speakers noted that the front-of-pack label system is not merely a regulatory change, but a critical health intervention that empowers consumers to make better food choices.
They stressed that policy decisions must be driven by scientific evidence rather than industry influence and called for strong political will and multi-sectoral collaboration to fast-track implementation.
The consultation concluded with a strong consensus that Pakistan can no longer afford to delay reforms.
The adoption of FOPWLs, combined with fiscal policies, marketing restrictions, and institutional regulations, could play a transformative role in reversing the tide of diet-related diseases in the country.
Dr. Saba Amjad summed up the call to action by saying, “We must not allow commercial interests to override public health. Every day we delay these reforms, more lives are lost to preventable diseases.”
Mr. Ghumman of PANAH added, “This is not just a health issue; it’s a national emergency. The government must act now to protect the lives and well-being of our people.”
