No Decision on Tax Relief For Formula Milk: FBR

By M. Waqar Bhatti

Islamabad: No decision has been made to reduce or eliminate taxes on infant formula milk, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not approved any such proposal, officials said, adding that a suggestion to provide tax relief on formula milk exists, but emphasized that it remains under review and is not finalized.

“There is definitely a proposal to reduce or eliminate taxes altogether on infant formula milk, but no decision has been taken yet because the IMF has not given approval to any such proposal,” a senior FBR said amid growing public debate.Another multinational exits Pakistan as Novartis hands over business to M&P affiliate

The remarks follow widespread media reports quoting Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, as indicating support for a tax cut on infant milk powder during a meeting with Nestlé Pakistan. The minister reportedly described the formula as vital for child nutrition and said making it more affordable was a government priority.

The reports have triggered strong criticism from health professionals, pediatricians, and global health bodies, who argue that such a move could damage efforts to promote breastfeeding, a practice endorsed by public health experts worldwide as essential for infant survival and well-being.

Officials from the Ministry of Health and prominent pediatricians called the proposal “shameful” and said it could severely undermine breastfeeding advocacy in Pakistan, where aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes has already weakened traditional infant feeding practices.

In a joint statement, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) reaffirmed the importance of breastfeeding and urged the government not to extend policy privileges to the formula milk industry.

“Breast milk provides essential nutrients, antibodies, and enzymes that cannot be replicated in formula. It supports optimal development, growth, and immunity in infants,” the statement said.

The organizations warned that formula milk companies often use aggressive and unethical marketing tactics, prioritizing profit over health. Formula-fed babies, they cautioned, face higher risks of infections, allergies, and chronic diseases compared to breastfed infants.

The joint statement also called on all government bodies to exclude formula milk manufacturers from policymaking platforms, such as the Infant Feeding Board and National Nutrition Board, due to clear conflicts of interest. They demanded the removal of any notifications or interventions where formula companies are involved in nutrition programming or advisory roles.

“The development of public health policies must be free from corporate influence,” the statement noted, citing Pakistan’s commitment to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the World Health Assembly Resolution A69/7.

Anteneh Girma Minas, Chief Nutrition at UNICEF Pakistan, stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. “Babies need only breast milk—no other food or drink. Breast milk provides all the essential nutrients an infant needs for survival, growth, and development,” he said. “Breastfeeding should continue for up to two years, along with complementary feeding from locally available foods.”

However, he pointed out that infant feeding practices in Pakistan remain far from ideal. “Less than 50 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months, and fewer than 15 percent receive a minimum diverse diet. Aggressive, unregulated marketing of industrial formula is a major driver of poor feeding practices and is linked to high child malnutrition and mortality,” he added.

He noted that suboptimal breastfeeding alone costs Pakistan’s health system an estimated $44.4 million each year.
“Pakistan faces a triple burden of child malnutrition—stunting, wasting, and obesity—all tied to poor feeding during the first 1,000 days of life,” Minas said. “Breastfeeding must be promoted, protected, and supported in all policy and program contexts, in line with global resolutions.”