Sarwar Awan
A delegation of Pakistan National Heart Association, led by its President Maj-Gen (retd) Masood-ur-Rehman Kayani, met Special Advisor on Health to Prime Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan on Monday and discussed issues relating to people’s health.
Dr. Faisal Sultan, talking to the PANAH delegation, said that the health of the people is one of the main priorities of the Prime Minister. “Achieving development without a healthy society is not possible and in this regard all must support the government,” he said.
Dr Faisal further said, “There are obstacles in providing health services to the people. They will be eliminated in stages. I am really thankful to Panah for informing me about the public issues.”
Maj-Gen (retd) Masood-ur-Rehman Kayani, speaking on the occasion, said that the Panah has been educating the people about the causes of heart diseases for the last 36 years. He said that smoking, sugary drinks and obesity are one of the main causes of diseases.
Kayani said that this was a matter of public health and taking into account the factors that endanger the health of the people should be among the priorities of the government.
He said that despite the passage of a bill by the Cabinet and the Prime Minister to impose 10% tax on tobacco and 1% tax on sugary drinks, the lack of progress is a matter of concern.
General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman said that smoking and consumption of sugary drinks cause various diseases in the human body including heart, cancer and diabetes. He added that only by enacting a legislation to prevent this, a healthy society can be established. “Legislation to prevent sale of unhealthy items will only help establish a healthy society, Ghumman said.
Sanaullah said the government must enact effective and comprehensive legislation to prevent factors that harm the human body.
