CHITRAL, April 30: Authorised dealers of iodised salt have assured the health department that only iodised salt will be sold in the district and the number of sale points will be increased.

Regional Coordinator of the Nutrition Wing of the Health Ministry, Dr Naveed Alam, said at a meeting here that the water in Chitral was deficient in iodine, which could be replenished only by using iodised salt. He said that before the introduction of iodised salt some 10 years ago, goitre used to afflict a large section of the population.

He said the prevalence of several diseases had been checked in the new generation.

It was decided that a comprehensive plan would be chalked out to spread awareness about the need for using iodised salt.