DAP demands doubling taxes on sugary drinks in Pakistan
Karachi
April 17, 2021
The Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP) has demanded of the authorities to double the taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the coming budget, saying diabetes is growing at an alarming rate in Pakistan, which has the 4th highest burden of type 2 diabetes worldwide with more than 19 million cases.
“The Diabetic Association of Pakistan requests increasing the Federal Excise Duty from 11.5 per cent to 20 per cent on sugar- sweetened beverages (SSBs), which are, unfortunately, becoming an increasingly essential part of household food consumption with more than a 10 per cent point increase in the last few years along with a gradual increase in production and decrease in the price,” said Prof Abdul Basit, secretary general of DAP, in a letter to the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday.