World Stroke Day 2025: Eliminating Trans Fats for a Healthier Pakistan
Suneel Kumar
Each year, more than 100,000 Pakistanis lose their lives to stroke, a condition that not only devastates families but also places a heavy burden on the country’s healthcare system. What makes this tragedy even more alarming is that most strokes are preventable — and one of the silent culprits lies in what we eat every day.
At the heart of this issue are Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) — the main source of industrial trans fats in our food. These harmful fats are commonly used in bakery products, fried snacks, margarine, and street food because they’re cheap and have a longer shelf life. However, the health cost is immense. Trans fats increase levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and lower “good” HDL cholesterol, significantly raising the risk of stroke, heart disease, and premature death.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), eliminating industrially produced trans fats is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve public health. Many countries have already banned PHOs entirely — saving millions of lives each year. Pakistan has taken steps toward regulation, but enforcement remains a challenge, particularly in informal food sectors and small-scale industries.
On World Stroke Day 2025, we are reminded that protecting public health begins with awareness and policy action. Replacing PHOs with healthier oils not only saves lives but also contributes to broader sustainable goals — supporting climate-friendly agriculture and reducing the environmental impact of oil production and waste.
