Islamabad: Excessive use of salt, refined sugar and cooking oils in daily meals is driving a surge in lifestyle-related diseases in Pakistan, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Dr. Luo Dapeng warned, noting that Pakistanis even add salt while cooking rice, something he has not seen anywhere else in the world.
“I have visited over 60–70 countries but never saw people adding salt to rice except in Pakistan,” he told VitalsNews in an exclusive conversation at his Islamabad office. He said rice is a staple food and when salt is mixed during cooking, it becomes a hidden but major source of sodium intake, directly contributing to hypertension and heart disease.
“On my arrival in Pakistan, I requested the cafeteria not to add salt to rice,” he said, pointing out that people already consume high salt through pickles, packaged spices and restaurant food.
He added that Pakistanis also take large amounts of sugar through tea, sweetened drinks and even fresh fruit juices, where sugar is unnecessarily added. Combined with a high-carbohydrate diet and generous use of oil and fats in household cooking, this habit has pushed Pakistan into a high-risk zone for diabetes and heart disease.
“These conditions are largely preventable. With small changes in food practices and strong awareness messages, people can protect themselves,” he said.
Dr. Luo also spoke about Pakistan’s medical workforce, saying the country produces some of the world’s most competent doctors, many of whom rise to senior positions in hospitals across the Middle East, Europe, Australia and America. Yet, public hospitals at home continue to face shortages of doctors, nurses and paramedics.
“Whether in the Gulf, London, Melbourne or America, I have seen Pakistani doctors leading critical units. Their skill and work ethic stand out. Pakistan should be proud of this talent,” he said. But he added that the same expertise is not always available for patients within Pakistan due to migration of skilled professionals to countries offering better career pathways and professional respect.
He said the shortage is not limited to doctors, as Pakistan is also facing a critical gap in trained nurses and paramedics. WHO, he said, is assisting the government in reviewing over 600 nursing schools to improve curriculum, accreditation and training standards.
According to him, Pakistan has the human potential to build a strong health workforce but needs to focus on retention, career growth and dignified working conditions. “A country that produces so much medical talent should not be struggling to staff its own hospitals,” he remarked.
Sharing his connection with Pakistan, Dr. Luo said he considers the country his second home and has always been received with warmth whether in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or villages in Gilgit-Baltistan. “This warmth gives me a personal stake in Pakistan’s progress,” he said.
Pakistan, he added, continues to battle infectious diseases such as dengue, diarrheal illnesses, malaria, hepatitis C and rising HIV cases, especially after recent floods and disruptions in health services. Yet, he said he remains optimistic, saying that with better lifestyle habits and retention of its trained workforce, Pakistan has everything needed to strengthen its health system.
“If Pakistan retains its doctors and nurses, improves training standards and promotes healthier lifestyle habits, it has all the ingredients to build a healthier future,” he said.
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