As the country with the fourth highest burden of diabetes, calls have been growing within Pakistan to stop the delays to a proposed Health Levy Bill that proposes to raise taxes on sugary drinks and tobacco. The Bill has been going back and forth between relevant ministries and the tax department.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, Pakistan now has over 19.4 million citizens with diabetes. Numerous NGO’s and politicians within the country have been advocating action to suppress the harmful effects of sugar sweetened beverages, the health risks from smoking and the need to tackle a growing obesity problem in the country. Pakistan Senator Nuzhat Amir Sadiq has said that good health is the right of all and that health-damaging factors must be addressed in a timely manner.
Health experts have warned that the excess consumption of sugary drinks is one of the major causes of obesity and its related diseases, increasing risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, liver and kidney damage, heart disease, and some types of cancers.
Professor Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, Head of the Department of Public Health at Health Services Academy Islamabad said that evidence from Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom and other countries suggests that imposing tax on sugary drinks is an effective strategy to reduce its consumption and generate revenue for government which could be spent on sustainable health and nutrition programmes. He said that the Health Levy Bill approved by the cabinet in 2019 was a good step by the government.
Advocacy Action: Does your Government impose taxes with specific health objectives? There are many more ideas than sugar taxes raising funds to invest in health care, education, research, sport and other activities to improve peoples’ well-being.