Islamabad: On World Diabetes Day, PANAH and its coalition partners organizes health mela at National Press Club Islamabad followed by awareness walk. Federal Minister for information and broadcasting Mr. Atta Tarar was the chief guest of the occasion . Experts said that Pakistan is facing an alarming rise in diabetes cases from 6.3 million in 2011 to 33 million in 2021 with another one million people at risk as pre-diabetic. This surge has placed Pakistan at the top of the global ranking for diabetes prevalence, where one in every three adults is living with the disease. Approximately 1,100 deaths are occurring daily due to diabetes and its related complications in Pakistan. Health experts warn that without urgent and effective policy measures, the number of diabetics in Pakistan could reach to 70 million by 2050. This awareness walk was jointly organized by the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), Heartfile, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), and the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI). Health experts, government officials, civil society representative, youth, media and people for all walks of life participated in walk. Health experts highlighted that unhealthy diets are among the major cause of diabetes and other NCDs. Participants were carrying placards calling on the government to adopt evidence-based public health policies such as increasing taxes on ultra-processed products (UPPs, Enacting mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) on UPPs, and banning partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), a key source of trans fats in the Pakistani diet.
A free medical camp (Health Mela) was also organized by PANAH under the patronage of Maj. Gen. (R) Masud Ur Rehman Kiani, President PANAH. During the Health mela, doctors provided free medical consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines to hundreds of participants. Specialists from various medical fields including cardiology, oncology, gynecology, pediatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, and urology offered services to promote early detection, prevention, and lifestyle modification to curb the rising tide of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
During the Health Mela at the National Press Club, online podcast discussions were also held, featuring health experts from various specialties and representatives of PANAH, Heartfile, CPDI, and PYCA, who shared their insights on public health issues. The participants discussed the health harms of ultra-processed products (UPPs) and emphasized the need for effective policy measures to curb their consumption and protect public health.
They stressed that sweetened beverages are one of the largest sources of sugar intake in Pakistan. Liquid sugar alters the body’s metabolism, promotes excessive calorie intake, and leads to Type 2 diabetes and other fatal diseases. Research shows that regular consumption of sweet drinks increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 30 percent. This risk can be reduced significantly through effective fiscal measures such as taxation policies.
Policy Experts emphasized the critical importance of enacting mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs) on ultra-processed products (UPPs). He stated that clear and visible warning labels empower consumers to make informed food choices by identifying products high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats at a glance. Such labeling policies, he noted, have proven effective globally in reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods and encouraging the food industry to reformulate products for better public health outcomes.
Health experts underscored the urgent need for the government to ban partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in Pakistan. It was shared that PHOs are a major source of industrially produced trans fats, which have no known health benefits and are a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. The World Health Organization recommends a complete elimination of trans fats from the food supply. Implementing a PHO ban in Pakistan would be a landmark step toward saving thousands of lives each year and improving population health.
