LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Monday organised the 6th Annual All Pakistan Nutritionists Convention focusing on combating malnutrition.

The convention was held at Alhamra Hall where PFA Director General (DG) Asim Javed was the chief guest.

Addressing the participants, the PFA DG expressed concern that 40pc of children were suffering from stunting, 28pc from wasting and 30pc having height below the average for their age.

According to the National Nutrition Survey, 25pc of children face zinc deficiency and 30pc are iron deficient.

Mr Javed highlighted that malnutrition was a critical issue requiring the imposition of a nutrition emergency. He emphasized that establishment of PFA helped address food hygiene and safety challenges.

The DG further shared that in the current year alone, 214,000kg of meat, 56,161 litres of oil and 312,562 liters of adulterated milk were disposed of.

He said various nutrition programmes like the Healthy Kids Campaign, Healthy Women Campaign, and School Nutrition Programs were actively underway. Under the School Nutrition Programme, 20,000 children were pre and post screened and 10,786 students received free daily lunch boxes for two months.

Mr Javed stressed the importance of introducing nutrition subjects in the academic curriculum to support children’s physical and mental growth. He noted that PFA’s nutritionists were conducting daily awareness sessions at institutions, public parks and malls.

Convention was also attended by Nutritionists & Dietitians Society (NDS) Chairman Dr Hassan Mavia, University of Management Sciences Dean Dr Salman Bashir, Rector Dr Asif Raza and senior nutritionist Dr Ghazala Pervez.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2025