Pakistan introduces new calorie labelling rules for eateries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a campaign to promote healthy eating by requiring hotels and restaurants to display calorie and nutrition information on their menus, officials said.

The move, part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “Strategic Reforms Initiative”, aims to raise public awareness of the benefits of consuming balanced food and prevent obesity and other health problems.

Salman Sofi, the head of the initiative, said nearly 500 hotels and restaurants across the country have been initially mandated to include the calorie count and the amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fats and other nutrients for each meal they offer.

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“We want to empower consumers to make informed choices about what they eat and drink,” Sofi told Reuters. “This will also encourage the food industry to offer healthier options and improve their standards.”

The World Health Organization recommends that countries adopt policies to provide clear and consistent nutrition information on food labels and menus as part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent obesity and diet-related diseases.

According to the WHO, Pakistan has one of the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean region, with 29% of adults aged 18 years and over being overweight and 8% being obese in 2016.