New Year 2026 and Pakistan’s Challenges
Sanaullah Ghumman
panah84@gmail.com
Secretary General PANAH
In the social, economic and medical session, the question is often asked that how will 2026 be in economic, political and medically terms? Economists consider economic and political stability to be indispensable for each other and also give their opinions on it. In our opinion, the stability of both fronts is secondary. The real issue is the health of the nation.
We will present our point and argument later. First, let us mention the small unusual dialogue attributed to Mount Tur, which doubles the importance and status of health. Hazrat Moses (peace be upon him) asks, O Lord of the earth and sky, if you were to ask a question in my place, which question would be the first? Allah raised his voice from the sky, “Moses will asked about health.” This conversation of love and devotion between Moses and his Lord reveals the things and blessings related to health. May Allah bless everyone with the wealth and wealth of health. Amen…
The nation is busy celebrating the New Year, but a silent storm is knocking at the door of Pakistan, which is not only hollowing out our economy but also the entire health system. This storm is not of bombs and earthquakes, but of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart diseases, diabetes, blood pressure; cancer and chronic respiratory diseases that are slowly but surely taking lives and national resources. According to the World Health Organization, about 58 percent of the total deaths in Pakistan are due to these diseases. Every day, about 2,400 Pakistanis die of NCDs, every minute a heart attack occurs, 1,100 people die of diabetes-related complications, while more than 450 deaths from tobacco-related diseases have become a daily occurrence. All these diseases are preventable if timely decisions are taken. The most worrying aspect is that these diseases are rapidly affecting our young population. The youth, who are the backbone of any nation and the future workforce, are today paying the price of unhealthy lifestyles and poor nutrition with their health. The result is that the disease is no longer just an individual problem, but also a burden on the economy, reduced productivity and social instability. The situation of diabetes has become a national emergency. According to the International Diabetes Federation, more than 35 million people in Pakistan are diabetic and we have come first in the world in terms of population. Experts say that diabetes alone is costing Pakistan’s economy trillions of rupees annually. The tragedy is that the annual expenditure on diabetes medicine has exceeded US$2.6 billion, which is more than an IMF tranche, while our overall health budget is only around 2 percent of GDP. Pakistan has pledged to reduce non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but this target cannot be achieved by mere prayers.
A major reason for this problem is our daily diet, which has become rich in sugar, salt and trans fats. Junk food, cheap sugary drinks, salty snacks and ultra-processed products have become common on our tables and children and youth are becoming their easiest victims. Many countries have taken this crisis seriously and implemented simple but effective policies and the results are in sight.These include
I. Taxes on unhealthy ultra-processed foods, front-of-pack warning labels.
II. Bans on junk food advertising to children.
III. Bans on the sale of these products in educational institutions.
Tax policy not only reduces consumption but also generates additional revenue for the government, that too at no additional cost, which can be spent on health and awareness programs –
Similarly, front-of-pack warning labels such as high sugar or high salt give the consumer the opportunity to make an informed decision in a few seconds and research shows that they bring about immediate changes in public attitudes. Healthy food guidelines for children in schools, nutrition education, and the prevention of junk food marketing on digital platforms are also indispensable.
All these are tested measures that have significantly reduced the rate of diseases. We also need to become a nation in which all segments of society including policymakers, parliamentarians; Scholars, youth, health experts and economists will have to face this challenge together, just as we fought Corona together. The truth is simple and bitter: no economy can be strong without health, and a sick nation cannot progress. If Pakistan really wants to achieve economic stability, social progress and the goals of the SDGs, urgent and bold measures against non-communicable diseases are indispensable. Control over harmful food, strong laws, strict regulation and effective awareness are the only way that can lead us towards a healthy, strong and safe future. Let the new year 2026 not be just a change of calendar, but a turning point where Pakistan decides to stand against the silent killer. Because the right decisions today are the guarantee of a safe future tomorrow.
