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May 23, 2021
KARACHI: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS,R&C) has recommended the Finance Ministry to raise the taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) including carbonated drinks in the coming budget to make them inaccessible to masses due to their health hazards, The News has learnt.
“Yes. The Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has sent a recommendation to the Finance Minister to raise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages on the request from health experts, especially eminent diabetologists of Pakistan”, an official of the NHS,R&C confirmed on Saturday.
The National Health Services official, who requested anonymity, said the Dr Faisal Sultan decided to recommend for increasing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and carbonated drinks after the Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP) wrote letters to health authorities as well as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials, requesting them
KARACHI: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has recommended the Finance Ministry to raise the taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages including carbonated drinks in.
KARACHI: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has recommended the Finance Ministry to raise the taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages including carbonated drinks in.
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.
Fasting helps fight diabetes, psychological disorders and other illnesses, say experts
Karachi
March 1, 2021
Although Muslims don’t observe fast in the holy month of Ramazan for medical reasons, fasting in the holy month of Ramazan has hundreds of health benefits – both on the physical and mental well-being of people especially those suffering from diseases like diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, depression and others illnesses, said local and international health experts at a conference on Sunday.
The experts, however, advised people with health issues to seek pre-Ramazan education and medical advice for safe fasting.
“Scientific evidence proves that fasting promotes blood sugar control and better health by fighting inflammation, enhancing heart health by improving blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol levels, boosting brain functions, preventing neurodegenerative disorders, helping weight loss by limiting calorie intake and