Pakistan is facing a silent crisis of malnutrition that is amongst the worst in the world and has not improved for decades. Amid such grim situation, a two-day National Conference on the State of Nutrition in Pakistan and formation of the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance (SUN-CSA) was convened in the federal capital.
Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning and Development, appreciated the formulation of Alliance for scaling up the nutrition in Pakistan. He called upon all the stakeholders to not only fight the challenges Pakistan is facing nowadays but put up a unified front to counter malnutrition in Pakistan. He was of the view: "It is a glaring fact that Pakistan sustains one of the worst nutritional rates and government has initiated many national level programmes to counter malnutrition in Pakistan."
Federal Minister Food, Security and Research, Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan congratulated the newly-elected body of the Alliance, ensuring that Government will take every step required to not only ease the ongoing malnutrition emergency but will also put the country on track to achieve healthy nutritional states. He said: "SUN is a unique Movement founded on the principle that all people have a right to food and good nutrition. It unites people-from governments, civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses and researchers-in a collective effort to improve nutrition."
The Conference observed one-minute silence to pay homage to the victims of terrorism at Peshawar school. Prior to opening of the first session, member SUN-CSA Election Advisory Committee & Director PILER Zulfiqar Shah appreciated the fact that Civil Society has joined forces to combat the malnutrition issue.
Arshad Mahmood, member SUN-CSA Election Advisory Committee & Director CRG, Save the Children, pondered upon the significance of Alliance, its objectives and anticipated goals. He said all provincial governments should approve and implement Provincial Multi Sectoral Nutrition Strategies by allocating/ arranging required financial and human resources.
Dr Noshad Ali Khan of Aga Khan University and Dr Neel Kanth of HELP organisation updated the audience about situation of malnutrition nutrition situation in Pakistan. Dr Tanveer, Chief Executive of HANDS, deliberated on effects of emergencies and poor health services on nutrition. Dr Muhammad Ali of Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum pondered upon the Impact and relevance of land rights & food security with nutrition.-PR
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