The Sindh Assembly has introduced a new law, the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act, to address the growing reliance on infant formula milk.
Under this legislation, formula milk can only be sold with a doctor’s prescription and must be clearly marked as “artificial milk.”
This step aims to encourage breastfeeding, as data from the Pakistan Pediatric Association shows that only 48% of mothers in Pakistan breastfeed their children, leaving the majority dependent on formula milk.
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This dependency has been associated with a rise in infant illnesses, including diarrhea, pneumonia, and typhoid. The financial impact of formula milk is another concern, with families spending between Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 monthly, totaling Rs360,000 annually.
This not only burdens households but also strains Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves due to the high cost of importing formula milk.
To ensure compliance, the Sindh government has formed a monitoring board with representatives from the Sindh Healthcare Commission and the Pakistan Pediatric Association.
The law imposes strict penalties: doctors promoting formula milk could face fines up to Rs500,000 and six months in jail, hospitals are barred from advertising formula milk, and medical stores cannot sell it without a prescription.
In emergencies, formula milk can only be used under medical supervision and for a limited time. This initiative seeks to improve child health and promote breastfeeding across the province.
