‘Taxing unnecessary items is a win-win situation for country’

Islamabad:Pakistan is facing a public health emergency of an unprecedented scale and it is high time for taking bold steps to protect our people from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Taxing unnecessary items is a win-win situation for the country and in the existing conditions, taxing juices and sugary drinks is not a burden, in fact, it is an investment in prevention.

This was stated by President of Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) Major General (R) Dr. Masuod Ur Rahman Kiani while talking to media men in a seminar here on Tuesday. According to the International Diabetes Federation, Pakistan now has the highest rate of diabetes in the world, with over 35 million adults (31.4%) aged 20–79 living with the disease. This number is set to reach 70 million by 2050, if no immediate policy action is taken. No country can manage or treat such a huge number of patients and we must focus on prevention, he added.

Several civil society organizations, medical organizations, and health institutions including Pakistan National Heart Association, Diabetic Association of Pakistan, Heartfile, International Diabetes Federation, Center for Peace and Development Initiative, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan Medical Association, World Bank, World Health Organization, and SUN Civil Society Alliance expressed support for the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Health that recommends increasing taxes on juices (including fruit juices), carbonated beverages, squashes, syrups, energy drinks, iced tea and flavored milk to 40 per cent during the 2025-26 finance bill.

Dr. Kiani said that taxing on juices, including sugary drinks, is a globally proven measure that brings a triple win to the people of Pakistan. This would not only reduce harmful consumption, reduce hospital expenditure, reduce deaths and diseases but also brings economic benefits, he said. A World Bank 2022 study found that a 50% excise tax on sugary drinks could generate $51 million in additional tax revenue, and create $7 million in annual health value, he said.

PANAH urges the government to prioritize public health in the upcoming budget by increasing taxes on all sugary drinks, including juices. “It is time for courageous leadership to take action as the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of implementing this tax.” concluded Dr. Kiani.

Professor Dr. Shakeel Mirza, a renowned endocrinologist from Rawalpindi said that several research studies confirm that the regular consumption of juices and other sugary drinks are among the major causes of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, several types of cancers and liver and kidney diseases. The regular consumption of sugary drinks is putting serious threats to public health and the economy of the country.