The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) organised an awareness workshop in Karachi to highlight the health risks associated with partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) and discuss the role of the media in supporting legislation to ban industrial trans fats in Pakistan.
The workshop, titled “The Impact of Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) on Human Health and Role of Media in Legislative Ban on PHOs in Pakistan”, brought together health experts, civil society representatives, media professionals and participants from various sectors.
Speakers discussed the harmful effects of PHOs, particularly industrial trans fats, and their potential contribution to serious health conditions. They stressed that greater public awareness was needed to help consumers understand the risks associated with products containing these ingredients.
CPDI Programme Manager Shehzad Iqbal said partially hydrogenated oils were highly harmful to human health and that the trans fats they contain could contribute to various diseases. He called for an effective awareness campaign to educate the public and said the media could play an important role in communicating health risks to consumers.
Dr Zabala Lutfi, Assistant Professor at the University of Karachi, and Dr Azfar Saleem said industrial trans fats in food products posed a significant threat to public health. They noted that continued consumption of PHOs could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems.
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CPDI Programme Assistant Hafza Bibi said many consumers remained unaware that ingredients used in processed foods and bakery products could have harmful effects on their health. She stressed the importance of providing clear information so people could make informed choices about the food they consume.
CPDI Executive Director Mukhtar Ahmed Ali said the issue should not be treated solely as a health concern, arguing that Pakistan also needed effective policies and legislation to address the use of industrial trans fats. He noted that several countries had already introduced measures to eliminate such fats from food supplies.
Senior analyst and journalist Shazia Rizwan said consumers should receive information about the dangers of PHOs in simple and easily understandable language. She said a large section of the public depended on the media for health information and called for effective legislation and strict enforcement to eliminate industrial trans fats in Pakistan.
The speakers agreed that legislation alone would not be sufficient. They called for effective enforcement, regular monitoring of food products, greater responsibility from the food industry and stronger consumer awareness to protect public health.
The workshop concluded with a call for coordinated efforts among policymakers, health experts, the food industry, civil society and the media to reduce exposure to harmful industrial trans fats and strengthen public health protections in Pakistan.
