Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana on Tuesday inaugurated the "Food and Nutrition Week-2015" and the International Human Nutrition Conference which was organised by the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Lahore in collaboration with the Nutritionists Association of Pakistan, Pakistan Poultry Association, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Pakistan Medical Association and Forman Christian College.
The Food and Nutrition Week-2015, with a theme titled "professional collaboration for better health", will continue till November 7. In a speech, the governor said, "Malnutrition issues related to food safety and food security are big challenges for development of our country. It has an adverse impact on the economy, potentially causing three to four percent loss in the gross domestic product on annual basis. A multi-sector approach needs to be adopted in addressing malnutrition and food security issues."
He also said Pakistan had signed the Scaling-up Nutrition Movement of United Nations, which highlights the importance, not only of health sector interventions to address malnutrition but also of implementation of nutrition sensitive interventions in other sectors such as food, agriculture, education, social protection, water and sanitation and by the private sector. "It has also been realised by the government that nutrition is not a standalone subject and requires efforts through multi-sector approaches," he added. He assured the organisers of his support for implementation of the conference recommendations. In his welcome address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Doctor Talat Naseer Pasha said his university was one of the top 10 universities in Pakistan and a flagship for livestock and allied sectors.
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