ISLAMABAD
\nAs 2023 is coming to a close, it is apparent that Pakistan has missed the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) 2023 deadline to eliminate industrially-produced Trans Fats (iTFAs) from all food sources.
\nAccording to experts, despite efforts by the Nutrition Wing of MoNHSR&C earlier this year to regulate iTFAs in specific food sources such as banaspati ghee, bakery wares, and bakery shortenings with the help of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), public health experts stress that this progress, while a positive step forward, remains insufficient.
\n\u201cMany commonly consumed sources of transfats such packed snacks, dairy products, street foods, and several types of ultra-processed foods remain outside the realm of iTFA standards,\u201d stated Munawar Hussain, Country Coordinator Pakistan at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
\n\u201cIt is imperative that Pakistan does not allow the matter of regulating iTFAs to linger any further, and all efforts should be made to ensure that trans-fats across all dietary sources are regulated in accordance with WHO guidelines at earliest.\u201d
\nDr. Khawaja Masuood Ahmed, National Coordinator Nutrition and NFA at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) commented on ongoing efforts, stating, \u201cThe Ministry of Health is closely collaborating with civil society organizations, and providing technical support to the PSQCA to regulate Trans-fats to 2% in all food sources and safeguard the health of the Pakistani nation.
\nWe are committed to adopt the best practice policy to cover all foods under iTFA limits as per WHO Standards, through a single regulation if required.\u201d
\nEarlier this year, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), with support from GHAI and the NW-MoNHSR&C, collaborated with civil society actors such as the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) and Heartfile to launch the TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign.
\nAfshar Iqbal, Director of Media and Communications at PYCA, highlighted their efforts, stating, \u201cThrough the TRANSFORM Pakistan Campaign, we aim not only to raise mass awareness about the ill effects of iTFAs in our dietary sources but also to work with all relevant stakeholders to expedite the regulation of trans-fats across all food items in Pakistan.
\nWe are grateful to our national and international partners, collaborators, and the Ministry of Health for their support in advancing this critical cause.\u201d
\nMukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director of CPDI, shed light on the civil society\u2019s role in regulating iTFAs, saying, \u201cCivil society is in close communication with the Ministry of Health, PSQCA, and provincial food regulatory bodies. Our collaborative efforts are focused on ensuring that, after missing the 2023 global deadline, Pakistan does not encounter further roadblocks in enforcing government-mandated regulation on the presence of trans-fats in all foods across the country.\u201d
\nDr. Saba Amjad, CEO Heartfile, raised a concern that failure to take decisive action at earliest could lead to further increase in non-communicable diseases, particularly heart diseases and diabetes in Pakistan.\u201d The urgency to address this issue is paramount for the well-being of the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD As 2023 is coming to a close, it is apparent that Pakistan has missed the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) 2023 deadline to eliminate industrially-produced Trans Fats (iTFAs) from all food sources. According to experts, despite efforts by the Nutrition Wing of MoNHSR&C earlier this year to regulate iTFAs in specific food sources such as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-377579","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n