Islamabad:Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) continue to impose a devastating health and economic burden on Pakistan, accounting for the majority of premature deaths and placing an overwhelming strain on national healthcare resources.
Experts warn that unhealthy diets, high in sugar, salt, and fats are among the leading contributors to rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and other chronic conditions. In response to this growing crisis, public health advocates highlight Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs) as an evidence-based policy tool proven to help consumers quickly identify unhealthy products and make informed food choices.
Global and regional research strongly supports this measure, and the recent study published in “The Lancet” has further reinforced the effectiveness of warning labels in reducing consumption of harmful ultra-processed foods and beverages.
The study emphasised that countries implementing clear, mandatory FOPWL systems have seen meaningful shifts towards healthier diets and a reduction in diet-related NCD risks. Civil society organizations Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), and Heart file, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, are actively working on the enactment of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels on all ultra-processed products in Pakistan.
This policy is recognized as a critical step towards empowering consumers, reducing the NCD burden, and safeguarding public health – particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and low-income populations who are disproportionately targeted by the marketing of unhealthy foods, said Sanaullah Ghumman, General Secretary of PANAH, while talking to ‘The News’.
