Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq has said on Thursday that provincial Health department has decided to bring legislation for mandatory salt iodisation with micronutrient initiative. He claimed that the expected bill will be presented in the Assembly within two months.
In his earlier speech to parliamentarians, the Advisor and Parliamentary Secretary Imran Nazir agreed on the importance of salt iodisation and its impact on the population and assured to play their role with other parliamentarians to get the legislation approved by the Punjab Assembly for mandatory salt iodisation in the Punjab.
He advised the DG Health Dr Zahid Pervez to immediately prepare the draft bill after consultation with all stakeholders. Health Director General Doctor Zahid Pervaiz and Food Programme Manger Doctor Mahmood Ahmad said the importance of universal salt iodisation and activities being done in the Punjab by the Health department in close collaboration with Micronutrient Initiative Pakistan.
Country Director Micronutrient Initiative Pakistan Dr Tausif Akhtar Janjua briefed the participants about the Micronutrient Initiative efforts for salt iodisation in Pakistan and Punjab and discussed the role of parliamentarians for moving the bill in the Assembly. Talking to the parliamentarians, Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal appreciated the efforts of Micronutrient Initiative and Health department for salt iodization in Punjab.