Raise Taxes on Sugary Drinks to Save 450 Billion PKR Health Budget & Earn 110 Billion PKR new Revenue – PANAH media Walk @ Banjosa Lake

Banjosa Lake/ Azad Kashmir: 13 Nov 2022 – Pakistan National Heart Association organized a workshop and walk with senior journalists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.It was meant to raise awareness about the harmful effects on human health especially Diabetes. The organizers and media partners stressed the need to increase taxes on sugary drinks rather daily commodities of the public like petroleum. They shared that government can save up to 450 Billion PKR in shape of health expenditures due to sugary drinks while earn more than 110 Billion PKR by imposing more taxes on the drinks and beverages.

Panah has been working to prevent heart and related diseases for the past 40 years. On every National and World Disease Day, Panah organizes programs to raise awareness about it. On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, PANAH organized programs at different locations with senior journalists from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The first program was a workshop held at Baloch Azad Kashmir. Addressing the program, Secretary General of PANAH Mr. Sanaullah Ghumman spoke about the effects of diabetes on health and economy. He said that more than 1100 deaths are happening in Pakistan every day due to diabetes. Just as we as a nation fought against Corona and Dengue, we also need to work against diabetes on a war footing. Along with creating awareness among people, we also have to work on the factors that increase it. Consumption of sugary drinks is one of the major causes of diabetes. Drinking just one 250mg drink per day of sugary drinks increases the risk of diabetes by 30%.

Mr. Munawar Hussain, Consultant at Global Health Advocacy Incubator, shared the world studies and said how the world has successfully reduced the consumption of these harmful substances. Tax is the first and most effective step among them. More than 50 countries of the world reduced the consumption of these drinks by raising taxes. Journalists passed a resolution that government must take policy actions to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks. They agreed to raise voice with PANAH for higher taxes on SSBs.

On the second day, a walk was arranged at Banjosa Lake. People from all over Pakistan comes here. The participants in the walk carried banners and placards. . Sanaullah Ghumman said that on World Diabetes Day, we want to send a message that the government should play its role to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks that is major cause of diabetes.