ABBOTTABAD, Oct 27: A nutrition project for the earthquake-affected districts of NWFP was officially launched at a local mill on Saturday.

The project is aimed at fortifying flour with essential vitamins and minerals to help prevent diseases caused by micronutrient deficiency.

Mohammad Naeem Butt, chairman of the NWFP Flour Mills Association, presided over the launching ceremony which was attended by high-ranking provincial and local government officials.

Representatives of the World Food Programme and local NGOs attended the event.

Dr Noor Ahmed Khan, the national programme manager for Pakistan, said that 28,000 tonnes of flour would be fortified with iron and folic acid, benefiting 500,000 people a month.

The project titled Micronutrient Initiative is being launched in collaboration with the NWFP chapter of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association, with financial assistance of the World Food Programme and the Canadian International Development Agency.