Islamabad(Ghaznavi News ) Increasing tax on sugary drinks can help generating significant revenue and reduce the hospital expenditure. The common man is not effected when tax is increased on sugary drinks as these are not necessary items and their consumption only add diseases burden and increase hospital expenditure. Government of Pakistan shall increase Federal Excise Duty (FED) on all sugary drinks to a minimum of 50% in 2023-24 budget. This was said by experts during a civil society rally organized by Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) in front of National Press Club Islamabad. The guests included Maj. Gen. (R) Masud Ur Rehman Kiani, President PANAH, Munawar Hussain, Consultant Food Policy Program at Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Mr. Afzal Butt, President Pakistan Union of Journalists, Molana Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal Rizvi, District Khateeb& Chairman Aman Committee, Mr. Abdul Hafeez, Ex-Commissioner, representatives of civil society, media students and people from all walks of life. Participants of the rally were holding placards demanding government to prioritize public health instead of the corporate interest and make sugary drinks less affordable by increasing taxes on these drinks which are causing obesity and several chronic diseases.
Gen. Masud ur Rehman Kiani said that consumption of sugary drinks is one of the major reason for alarmingly growing obesity, heart diseases type 2 diabetes, several types of cancer, kidney and liver diseases. He mentioned that Pakistan is ranked number one with highest growth rate of diabetes during the last 10 years. Pakistan is ranked 3rd highest globally with 33 million people living with diabetes in 2021. If no policy action taken immediately, the number of people living with diabetes will increase to 62 million by 2045.
Munawar Hussainwhile addressing to the rally said that growing consumption of sugary drinks is a serious threat to health and economy in the country. The PIDE estimated Rs. 428 billion as cost of obesity in 2015. Similarly, as per International Diabetes Federation, the annual cost of managing diabetes in Pakistan has been increased to USD 2640 million in 2021. Increasing tax on sugary drinks is a triple win for the government, as the policy intervention does not cost anything to government, help reduce disease burden and hospital expenditure, and increase revenue. He requested Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Chairman FBR to consider increasing the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on all sugary drinks to a minimum of 50% in 2023-24 budget. He said that water, unsweetened milk and lassi are healthier drinks and should not be taxed for better health outcomes.
While addressing to rally, Mr. Sana Ullah Ghumman said that beverage industry is misguiding policy makers at every step and creating barriers to the policy process. Today health professionals, civil society, teachers, students, media are demanding Govt. of Pakistan to give priority to public health over beverage industry’s corporate interests. While referring to a national opinion poll conducted by Pakistan Health Research Council in 2021, he said that 78% adult Pakistanis supported increasing tax on sugary drinks.
Other speakers also demanded government to increase taxes on Sugary drinks in 2023-24 budget and use this revenue to subsidize healthy diet.
Pakistan is on the way to 62 million diabetics by 2045 -Maj. Gen. (R) Masud Ur Rehman Kiani
