Health activists urge govt to tax ultra-processed products

ISLAMABAD: Health activists while urging the government to prioritise public health by taxing ultra-processed products instead of petrol have said that an estimated 36 million Pakistanis are diabetic with the figure expected to increase to 62 million in the next 20 years and is annually costing Pakistan $3 billion on the treatment of diseases related to these ultra-processed products including sugary drinks.

They said that taxing ultra-processed products (UPPs) will be a triple win for government as it will not only generate more revenue but reduce health burden and increase productivity.

These concerns were highlighted in a press conference organised by Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) and its coalition partners, Heart Files, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), Pakistan Kidney Welfare Association (PKWA), and Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP) at a local hotel in Islamabad.

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is escalating in Pakistan. Alarming statistics reveal that over 41 per cent of adults in Pakistan are either obese or overweight. Additionally, more than 33 million people are currently living with diabetes, with another 10 million on the verge of developing the disease. Without immediate policy interventions, the number of individuals with diabetes is projected to surge to 62 million by 2045. The number of people living with diabetes in Pakistan increased from 6.3 million in 2011 to 33 million in 2021 and approximately 36 million in 2024, with an additional one million as pre diabetic.

PANAH General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman is calling on the government to prioritise public health over business interest. He said that alarming rate of increasing NCDs is becoming a pandemic in the country. Government should take immediate action by imposing taxes on ultra-processed products to reduce their consumption while the government has recently increased the tax on petrol which result in an increase in prices of medicine and household items.

Other participants said that ultra-processed products, laden with unhealthy additives, sugar, and artificial ingredients, are a leading cause of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Taxing these products would not only generate revenue for government but also incentivise healthier consumption habits, alleviating the growing strain on public health systems and supports long-term sustainability by encouraging healthier diets and reducing carbon footprints linked to food production. The government should shift its taxation priorities by targeting ultra-processed food and beverages instead of increasing taxes on petrol.

Demand from government was made to prioritise public health rather than the corporate interests and immediately impose higher taxes on unhealthy UPPs. “Government should consider increasing tax on all types of sugary drinks including carbonated beverages, energy drinks, juices, iced tea, squashes, and syrups for better outcomes of the policy,” they said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025