ndustrially-produced trans-fatty acids are stealthy dietary assassins, lurking in our favourite snacks, restaurant meals and packaged foods. These artificial fats, often hidden in plain sight, have a detrimental impact on our health.

Pakistan faces a growing TFA problem. As the nation navigates the treacherous waters of public health, the Senate has a crucial role in regulation.

The evidence against TFAs is compelling. These harmful fats, often introduced during food processing to extend shelf life or enhance flavour, have been linked to a litany of health woes. They raise bad cholesterol levels, lower good cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the World Health Organisation, TFAs are responsible for over half a million deaths a year.

Pakistan is the second-highest TFA consumer in the WHO-EMRO region after Egypt. It has a heavy burden of non-communicable diseases. A staggering $2,640 million was the estimated cost of diabetes management by Pakistan in 2021 alone. It is feared that 62 million people in the country might be living with diabetes by 2045.

The annual cost of obesity in Pakistan was Rs 428 billion in 2015. Cardiovascular diseases, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, infertility and several types of cancers are significant risks to health posed by the unregulated use of trans-fats in our diets. Evidence also shows that cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes are among the top killers in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority has issued a directive restricting TFAs to 2 percent in banaspati ghee, cooking oils, rusks, biscuits, bakery shortenings and bakery wares. However, some categories of foods, most notably noodles, desserts, snacks, dairy products and street foods are not covered by this regulation.

In recognition of the public health menace posed by TFAs, several countries have taken regulatory or legislative steps to curb their consumption. The Senate of Pakistan should follow suit. In 2018, India became a global leader in the fight against TFAs by mandating that industrially produced TFAs be limited to 2 percent of total fat content in all foods. The impact of this decision on public health may be profound.

In Pakistan, there is growing awareness of the health risks associated with the TFAs. I first learnt about the health hazards posed by trans-fats through Pakistan Youth Change Advocates’ TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign. Since then, I have observed growing public clamour demanding change. As a legislator, I believe that it is the Senate’s duty to respond. The Senate has the power and responsibility to influence regulations protecting the citizens’ health.

In 2018, India became a global leader in the fight against trans-fatty acids by mandating that industrially produced TFAs be limited to 2 percent of total fat content in all foods.

From my point of view, the Senate’s role in the regulation of TFAs is multifaceted. It should engage with the civil society and subject experts to build a comprehensive understanding regarding trans-fats. This exercise will involve considering the experiences of other nations. Only through a thorough examination of the facts can the Senate make informed decisions prioritising people’s well-being.

Once armed with this knowledge, the Senate should collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority to formulate a strategy for regulating the production and consumption of TFAs across all food items.

This strategy should include clear mandatory limits on TFA content in all foods, effective monitoring mechanisms, easily understandable front-of-pack nutrition labels and strict penalties for non-compliance. It is important in equal measure to ensure that these regulations are enforced consistently in every nook and corner of the country.

The Senate must also put its weight behind civil society-led campaigns, such as TRANSFORM Pakistan, to ensure that such voices from all over Pakistan are heard and included in decision-making.

The importance of international cooperation should not be ignored. The Senate can draw on the experiences of other nations that have successfully regulated TFAs, draw lessons from their unique journeys and where needed, forge partnerships with global counterparts.

The Senate must remain mindful that regulating TFAs is not meant to be punitive but protective. Its role is certainly not to restrict personal freedom but to ensure that freedom is exercised in a way that does not compromise the health of millions of Pakistanis.

This moral imperative is about placing the well-being of the people at the head of the legislative agenda. It is about preserving the health of the current and future generations. Regulating TFAs is about avoiding pointless suffering and saving lives.

Equipped with the right knowledge and tools, the Senate can become a formidable ally in the battle for public health.

The writer is a member of the Senate’s Committee on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination