Lahore – Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) recently held a Media Advocacy Workshop that focused on mobilizing media support for the regulation of industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) and advocated for a legislative ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHO). This workshop was part of the ongoing TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign, an initiative to create a national policy that enforces a mandatory limit of 2 grams of iTFA per 100 grams of fat and enforces a total ban on the production and distribution of PHO across the country.
The workshop brought together media workers from both print and electronic platforms and engaged them in discussions on the health implications of iTFA and the necessary steps for policy reform. Areebah Shahid, Executive Director, PYCA, opened the session by emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory action against iTFA. She said that industrially produced trans fats are silent killers that pose serious health risks to the Pakistani population. She further expressed that through the TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign, PYCA focused on protecting public health by advocating for policies that reduce the presence of trans fatty acids in the food supply and highlighted the key role of the media in shaping public opinion and political discourse. active involvement key to the transformation of Pakistan’s nutritional environment.
Munawar Hussain, Country Head of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, delivered a keynote address on the global and national perspective of iTFA regulation. He noted that countries around the world are taking decisive action to eliminate trans fats from their food supply and Pakistan cannot afford to lag further in protecting its citizens from the dangers posed by these harmful substances. “Every day that we allow unregulated trans fats to enter our food supply, we allow hundreds of people to die from preventable non-communicable diseases.”
Sanaullah Ghumman, Secretary General of Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), highlighted the economic burden of diseases associated with trans fats. He pointed out that the annual cost of treating diabetes in Pakistan far exceeds the financial assistance the country had hoped to receive from international institutions such as the IMF, and said investing in prevention measures today would save the country from massive economic and health impacts in the future.
The workshop was organized with the support of Social Development Initiatives (SDI). Sharing his thoughts on the need for collective action, Mian Shahid Nadeem, Executive Director of SDI, said: “Engaging the media builds a strong network of advocates who can spread the message of health and safety.”
The Media Advocacy Workshop in Lahore is part of a series of five workshops planned across Pakistan, including sessions in Islamabad and provincial capitals. The campaign aims to engage journalists across the country to provide media workers with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively advocate for public health policies.
“The workshop in Lahore marks a significant step forward in TRANSFORM Pakistan’s campaign to highlight the importance of media advocacy in the fight against industrially produced trans fatty acids. As the campaign continues to gain momentum, PYCA remains committed to working with stakeholders to implement effective policy changes that protect public health and well-being,” said Hassan Mukhtar, PYCA Media and PR Representative.
