ISLAMABAD:Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) on Monday organised a pre-budget seminar titled “National Dialogue on Disadvantages of Sugary Drinks to Health and Economy” where the experts proposed that progressively increased taxes on sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) would provide greater revenue for the next 10 years.
The Dialogue was presided over by the President PANAH Major General (R) Masood-ur-Rehman Kayani and hosted by General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman, said a press release.
President PANAH Major General (R) Masood-ur-Rehman Kaini welcomed the guests and said that sugary drinks were posing significant threat to health and economy of the country.
Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr. Asif Mehmood Jah said the sugary drinks were dangerous, which must be prevented. He urged the masses to adopt life principles of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), like living a simple life, and drink water instead of sugary drinks.
“We fully agree to increase the tax on SSBs. We have forwarded the suggestions to the FBR. The Federal Ombudsman will work together with PANAH in this cause”, he added.
Sana Ullah Ghumman said that raising tax on sugary drinks could provide a double benefit to government. “It will reduce the hospital expenditure and also help generating revenue which could be an alternative to petroleum levy”.
Consultant at Global Health Advocacy Incubators Munawar Hussain said there was enough global and local evidence supporting increased tax on sugary drinks.
He said that a recent study by the World Bank clearly indicated that progressively increased taxes on SSBs would reduce its consumption, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases.
General Secretary at Diabetic Association of Pakistan Dr. Abdul Basit said the people living with diabetes have increased from 19.4 million in 2019 to 33 million in 2021. “This has a serious consequences on our economy and no country could provide treatment to such a large number of people”.