Islamabad:

The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Under Committee on Tuesday called for a ban on junk food and fizzy drinks in schools, citing Pakistan’s alarming location as the world’s leading country for diabetes.

The panel, led by Zahra Wadood Fatemi, said women’s health was directly linked to well -being to whole families and emphasized the need for strict measures to limit sugar consumption.

Legislators described Sugar as a “quiet killer” and warned about the health hazards of canned and packed foods that were widely consumed despite their harmful effects.

Members of the Under Committee proposed a ban on junk food, packed food and fizzy drinks in households and enforcement of stricter rules on private school canteen, similar to existing restrictions in government schools.

They recommended to seek input from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) or the private educational institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) to establish guidelines for canteen operations in private schools.