MUZAFFARGARH: Health condition of the schoolchildren of Kot Addu is bad and needs immediate attention of the government. From 847 schoolchildren included in a survey, 433 were malnourished, 89 were underweight and 68 children had short stature as per their age.

This was stated by former director of International Monetary Fund for Tajikistan and economic expert Dr Sarmad who was speaking at a consultation for the media and civil society representatives at the National Press Club of Kot Addu on Saturday.

Mr Sarmad said the children of Kot Addu were facing mortality risk roughly three times higher than the normal conditions.

Comparing the health chart of Pakistani kids with their India counterparts, Dr Ali said on average 10 years old Pakistan boys were 31 centimeter shorter and 1.3kg lighter than the Indian children of the same age.

The health conditions of girl children were even more perilous.

On average girl child was six kilogram and 37cm behind in weight and height as compared to the Indian girls of the same age.

It was also disclosed at the consultation that according to a Punjab government survey held in 2014, 68pc of the children under five years in Muzaffargarh district were underfed and a victim of chronic hunger. According to the World Health Orgnisation, when the underfed children are 15pc, it creates an emergency-like situation Mazhar Juglani, Nawab Muztar, Tehreek Mutasareen Sugar Mills leaders Waseem Abbas, Rana Sheraz and Mian Saleem Joya were also present.

The consultation was also attended by civil society activists, lawyers, teachers and public.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2017