MURREE, 30 August 2026 (Nosheen): The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), along with public health experts, journalists, social media influencers and media professionals, has urged the Government of Pakistan to expedite the introduction of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs) on ultra-processed food and beverage products to protect consumers, curb unhealthy food consumption and promote healthier dietary choices. PANAH called for the introduction of black octagonal warning labels in Urdu on products exceeding World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended thresholds for sugar, sodium and saturated fats, as well as products containing non-sugar sweeteners. The association said such clear and prominent warnings were particularly important in Pakistan’s low-literacy settings and should be designed according to the country’s local context. “Pakistan’s food environment is changing rapidly, with consumers increasingly exposed to processed and ultra-processed products,” said Munawar Hussain, Food and Nutrition Policy Expert. He stressed that consumers needed clear, simple and prominent warning labels to identify products high in nutrients and ingredients of public health concern. He said protecting consumers required strong, evidence-based public health policies rather than placing the entire responsibility for healthy choices on individuals.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has already submitted an evidence-based proposal to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) through the Ministry of Science and Technology, following recommendations from the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health. However, the proposal has remained under discussion in PSQCA technical committees for the past two years. “There is no time to lose in adopting mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels. Every day of delay means more consumers, especially children and young people, are exposed to unhealthy ultra-processed foods and beverages without clear and simple information to guide their choices,” said Sana Ullah Ghumman, General Secretary of PANAH. He said ultra-processed foods and beverages were contributing to the growing burden of diet-related diseases in Pakistan and urged the government to take immediate action to protect consumers. “We cannot afford to wait while preventable diseases and deaths continue to rise,” he added. Participants of the workshop called upon the Ministry of Science and Technology and PSQCA to urgently complete the process for mandatory FOPWLs, in line with WHO-recommended Nutrient Profile Models and the evidence-based proposal submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. PANAH and participating media professionals reaffirmed their commitment to creating greater public awareness about healthy food choices and supporting policies aimed at building healthier food environments for the people of Pakistan.