Nationwide Call for Action: CPDI Presses Provinces to Enforce iTFA Limits for Public Health
Chehra WebDesk
Islamabad,
The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has urged provincial governments to swiftly implement the Pakistan Standard PS 5642:2025, limiting industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) to no more than 2% in food items. The standard was officially notified by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority earlier this year and is seen as a critical public health measure to reduce the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases.
In official correspondence with food authorities and Chief Ministers across the country, CPDI emphasized immediate enforcement and monitoring. The standard applies to all food products made with edible oils and fats—including packaged, processed, and street-vended items—while exempting naturally occurring trans fats in animal products.
CPDI also called for robust labeling, regular testing, and penalties for non-compliance, warning that the benefits of the regulation will only materialize with active provincial leadership.
“Pakistan has taken a bold regulatory step, but effective implementation is the key to saving lives,” said Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, CPDI’s Executive Director. He also reaffirmed CPDI’s commitment to raising public awareness and fostering accountability throughout the process.
The organization expressed optimism that with unified action, Pakistan can significantly curb preventable deaths tied to unhealthy diets.
