Rawalpindi:Civil society organisations and public health experts in collaboration with the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) have strongly urged the government to increase taxes on tobacco products, sugary drinks and other ultra-processed products instead of placing additional burden on the public through drastic cuts in development spending, particularly in the health and education sectors.
In light of the ongoing global economic pressures and rising fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the government has announced significant reductions in development budgets and increased fuel prices. These measures, while aimed at managing fiscal constraints, risk severely undermining Pakistan’s long-term economic growth and human development.
Pakistan is already facing a public health emergency driven by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses.
NCDs account for nearly 58 per cent of all deaths in Pakistan, making them the leading cause of mortality in the country. Diabetes, in particular, has reached alarming levels, with over 33 million adults living with the disease. Each year, hundreds of thousands of deaths are linked to diabetes and its complications, placing immense pressure on families and the healthcare system.
The economic burden of NCDs is equally devastating. These diseases cost Pakistan billions of rupees annually in healthcare expenditures and productivity losses. A significant portion of the workforce suffers from reduced productivity, absenteeism, and premature mortality due to preventable illnesses, directly impacting national economic output.
According to the association, a major contributor to this crisis is the widespread consumption of tobacco products and sugar-sweetened beverages. These harmful, non-essential products are directly linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer, yet remain under-taxed in Pakistan.
Association’s general secretary Sanaullah Ghumman said that at this time when the government is cutting essential development budgets, it is both unjust and economically short-sighted to ignore the massive revenue potential of taxes from non-essential items.
Tobacco, sweet drinks and other ultra-processed products are not necessities rather these are drivers of disease and death. By increasing taxes on these harmful products, the government can generate significant revenue, reduce disease burden, and protect vulnerable populations from further economic hardship, he said.
