ISLAMABAD: In alliance with the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), the Australian government announced on Thursday an additional support of $1 million to Pakistan to improve nutrition, eliminate hunger and attain food security by fortifying food.

Speaking at the launching of the National Food Fortification Strategy, Australia’s acting higher commissioner Jurek Juszczyk said the Australian government had supported national and provincial fortification alliances in all four provinces of Pakistan since June 2015 and was now extending the initiative for another year.

The strategy aims to lay out key steps for overcoming the micronutrient deficiencies in the country, known as “hidden hunger”.

The strategy is supported by the WFP Pakistan, the National Fortification Alliance (NFA) and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

According to the National Nutrition Survey of 2011, more than half of women and two-thirds of children in Pakistan are suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The problem imposes on Pakistan an annual economic burden of around $3.5 billion, equivalent to around two per cent of the GDP, according to the survey report.

Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar endorsed the National Fortification Strategy and acknowledged the efforts of the Australian government, the NFA and the WFP Pakistan in this regard.

The ministry was working in close liaison with its valued partners to eliminate hunger, attain food security and improved nutrition by achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Goal, she said.

The WFP’s Country Director, Finbarr Curran, said the Australian government had been a proactive partner in working with the UN agency and the Pakistan government in addressing issues of food security and nutrition in the country.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2017