ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has suggested a ban on the sale and supply of sugary drinks to educational institutions as well as to shops, canteens and tuck shops within 100 metres of educational institutions.

“Non-communicable diseases (NCD) including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, are collectively responsible for almost 68pc of all deaths in Pakistan.

“Moreover in Pakistan, NCDs are causing 51pc of total burden of disease, mostly in young age group. Sugary drinks are mostly responsible for the disease,” NHS Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani said in his letters to the federal education minister and the education minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan.

More than 26pc of population has type 2 diabetes, 14.47pc are at risk

In 2017, the Punjab government had imposed a ban on selling cold drinks in the canteens of all educational institutions across the province. It had also directed that such drinks cannot be sold within a 100-metre radius of educational institutions. Concerned authorities were asked to implement the directive and the contracts of canteens were to be cancelled in case of violation.

The Sindh government has also recently imposed a ban on the sale of all types of cold drinks, coloured drinks and flavoured snacks in all government and private schools, colleges and institutions.

In his letter, Mr Kiani said the use of sugary drinks has resulted in a significant burden on the socio-economic status of the population and has increased the cost of the healthcare delivery system across the country.

He has said that Pakistan is obligated to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

“Under target 3.4, Pakistan has to reduce one third of premature mortality from NCDs by 2030. Simple cost effective measures could reduce the burden of NCDs, including incorporating exercise in the daily routine, having a balanced diet by decreasing junk food consumption, decreased intake of sugar and salt in everyday cooking and decreasing tobacco use,” he said.

The letter says that according to the World Health Organisation, the over consumption of sugar is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

Sugary drinks are a major source of sugar in the diet and its consumption is increasing in most countries, especially among children and adolescents.

Apart from diabetes, obesity is a major risk factor for heart diseases, cancers and other diseases.

According to the National Diabetes Survey of Pakistan 2016-17, more than 26pc of the country’s population, that is 27.4 million people over the age of 20, have type 2 diabetes and 14.47pc are at risk of getting the disease.

Discouraging a sugar-rich diet goes with Pillar 3 of the National Health Vision, 2025 which focuses on the introduction of prevention programs targeting NCDs.

“In new recommendations from the American Heart Association, children [aged between two and 18] should eat and drink less than six teaspoons of added sugars daily, which is equivalent to about 100 calories or 25 grams,” the NHS minister’s letter says.

It goes on to say that banning the sale and supply of sugary drinks to educational institutions is an effective supply reduction strategy practiced all over the world.

The minister requested the relevant education ministers to issue directives to concerned authorities for banning the sale and supply of sugary drinks to educational institutions, shops canteens and kiosks within 100 metres of educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2018