GENEVA: Average Pakistanis consumed less calories in 1960-61 than they did 10 years earlier, a United Nations report said today (May 25). According to the 1962 Statistical Year Book of UN, published today, in 1960-61, the latest year for which figures were available, Pakistan had net food supplies per capita of 1,970 calories per day.

In 1949-50 food supplies were 2,010 calories per day. Average intake of calories has been consistently falling in Pakistan, an examination of the UN report shows. For instance, in 1950-51, it was 2,000 calories per day and in 1954-55 it was 1,990 calories.

Figures of the last two years were not available to the United Nations, but there might have been a further fall in net food supplies per capita in Pakistan in view of the larger increase in population than had been expected.

Lower calorie consumption resulted from a decrease in the supply of cereals, protein and animal fat available to a Pakistani.

The UN Statistical Year Book throws some interesting light on industrial and social progress in Asia’s two largest countries, China and India, that have embarked upon an undeclared race for improving their respective living standards following two diametrically opposed economic systems.

The national income of China increased from 70 billion yuans in 1953 to 152 billion yuans in 1959 based on constant prices. This represents a jump of nearly 116 per cent in six years. In India, on the other hand, national income rose from Rs 104 billon in 1953 to Rs 129 billon in 1959 — an increase of about 24 per cent. — Correspondent

Question Hour to go?

RAWALPINDI: The Conventionist Muslim League Parliamentary Party, which met here this morning (May 25), appointed a seven-man committee headed by Law Minister Khursheed Ahmad to examine whether ‘Question Hour’ and ‘adjournment motion’ provisions should be retained in the new Rules of Procedure or not.

Some members are of the view that the two did not fit in the Presidential system of Government.

However, majority of the members in the ruling party feel that since this was not a Presidential system in the strict sense, there was no harm if Question Hour is retained. — Staff Correspondent