Islamabad May 13, 2026(Ghufran): PANAH, together with public health experts, civil society organizations, consumer rights advocates, and academicians has called on the Government of Pakistan to expedite enactment of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) on ultra-processed food and beverage products to reduce their consumption, protect consumers, and help promote healthier food choices.
“Informed consumers and healthier food environments is essential to reduce Pakistan’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases,” said by Sana Ullah Ghumman, General Secretary at Pakistan National Heart Association.
Pakistan faces a rapidly growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which inflict huge public health and economic costs on both the government and the public. A significant proportion of these diseases are associated to diet-related risk factors like high intake of sodium/salt, sugar, trans fat, saturated fat, and non-sugar sweeteners. Rising consumption of ultra-processed food and beverage products is responsible for the growing intake of such nutrients of concern, which are often found in high levels in such products. In this regard, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination submitted an evidence based proposal aligned with global best practices to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), through Ministry of Science and Technology on the recommendations of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health. This important proposal for enactment of front of pack warning labels on ultra-processed food and beverage products is under discussion and deliberation since last two years in various technical committees of PSQCA.
“While we appreciate the progress made so far by PSQCA and national experts on this subject, we respectfully urge the Government of Pakistan to expedite the enactment of mandatory FOPWLs on ultra-processed food and beverage products. FOPWLs are a policy tool that provide simplified nutritional information on the front of ultra-processed products, enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and choose healthier options, even in low literacy settings. Food products that exceed WHO-recommended thresholds for sugars, saturated and trans fats, sodium, or that contain non-sugar sweeteners, should be required to display a black octagonal warning label in Urdu indicating high levels of these ingredients”. Ghumman added.
Credible global and national evidence, including series of recently published research in The Lancet, strongly support the adoption of this FOPWL policy as best practice for consumers having low literacy settings.
“It is disappointing that the certain segments of the food industry and their front groups are attempting to mislead policymakers in order to oppose or delay this important public health and consumer protection policy aimed at reducing the burden of disease and associated healthcare costs. Policy-making process must remain guided by independent scientific evidence and public health priorities, free from undue commercial influence” Ghumman emphasized.
Several countries have already implemented front-of-pack warning labels within the framework of applicable international law, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission also provides relevant guidance and doesn’t contradict to Front of Pack Warning Labels.
“Evidence demonstrates that industry-led self-regulatory labeling schemes have repeatedly proven inadequate in protecting consumers. Mandatory and standardized warning labels are therefore essential to ensure transparency, consistency, and equitable consumer protection to achieve public health goals, particularly for children and other vulnerable populations”. Ghumman added.
The group of leading health experts, consumer rights advocates, civil society organizations, and researchers calls on the Ministry of Science and Technology and PSQCA for the below urgent measures to protect consumers and public health.
• Expedite the enactment of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels, based on WHO-recommended Nutrient Profile Models, in consideration of the evidence-based proposal submitted by the Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination;
• Help ensure that the policy-making process remains guided by independent scientific evidence and public health priorities, free from undue commercial influence;
• Protect children and consumers from misleading marketing practices and unhealthy food environments in the country; and
• Prioritize evidence-based preventive health care policies to reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Pakistan.