Representatives from leading Pakistani media organizations, civil society groups, and public health advocates issued a united call for urgent government action to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs) from all food sources. They emphasized the critical need for swift policy measures aligned with WHO recommendations to protect public health from these hazardous substances.
The joint appeal was made during a media sensitization workshop organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) at a Karachi hotel. The event equipped journalists and media professionals from Sindh with in-depth knowledge on the health risks associated with iTFAs.
“Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and stroke are major killers in Pakistan. Every day of delay in adopting best-practice policies to eliminate iTFAs means more lives are lost to this deadly substance in our food supply,” stated Shahzad Iqbal, Program Manager at CPDI.
Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), a primary source of iTFAs, are widely used in Pakistan’s food supply and present a significant public health risk. “Limiting iTFAs in all dietary sources to less than 2% of total fats through comprehensive regulation, along with a legislative ban on the production and distribution of PHOs, is not only aligned with WHO-recommended best practices but is also essential for Pakistan to protect its citizens from the health hazards associated with iTFAs,” said Munawar Hussain who serves as the In-country Coordinator for Pakistan at Global Health Advocacy Incubator.
Recent studies and market analysis underscore the urgent need for intervention. “Vanaspati ghee, tea whiteners, street foods, fried items, dairy products, bakery goods, and ultra-processed foods are among the primary sources of iTFAs in Pakistan’s food supply chain,” explained Dr. Syed Ghufran Saeed, Chief Food Technologist from the University of Karachi’s Food Sciences Department.
Ali Bux Somro, Director Technical at the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), noted, “Pakistan is one of the highest consumers of iTFAs in the region due to the lack of comprehensive policies. PSQCA is committed to establishing clear standards for all food items.”
Afshar Iqbal, Director of Communications and Advocacy at Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), urged media representatives to leverage mainstream and social media platforms to spotlight this critical issue and raise public awareness, which would help build support for policy changes and facilitate the government’s implementation of essential health safeguards.
The workshop brought together prominent journalists from print, electronic, and social media outlets. Participants reviewed Pakistan’s health statistics, identified gaps in food-related policies, and examined successful models from other countries.
Media representatives expressed serious concern over the rise in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in Pakistan.
They called on the government to declare a public health emergency and advance policies to restrict iTFAs, ban PHOs, introduce front-of-pack nutrition labeling, place warning signs on ultra-processed foods, regulate marketing practices, and remove unhealthy food options from public institutions, particularly schools.
