ZUBAIR QURESHI
The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) has hailed the media’s role in highlighting the health hazards related to sugary drinks and hosted a reception for media persons at a local hotel on Thursday to celebrate this achievement.
Speaking on the occasion Secretary General of the PANAH Sanaullah Ghumman while terming the levying of tax on sugary drinks a landmark success, admitted the media partners had played an important role in this policy victory.
“Beverage industry has been misguiding the policy makers against imposing taxes on these drinks by giving advertisements in newspapers, recommendations from the Senate of Pakistan and others but we were finally able to convince policy makers to impose higher taxes on sugary drinks, “ he said. The credit should also be given to the Ministry of Finance, the FBR and other related departments for that, he added.
Ghumman said the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on juices, squashes and syrups increased from existing 10pc (which was imposed during supplementary finance bill February 2023) to 20pc during the finance bill 2023-24 was a welcome step and a long-awaited demand of the PANAH. The final bill has been approved by the president of Pakistan.
