THE seminar on `Food Security and Nutrition, Strategic Review`, under the joint auspices of UN-Pakistan and Punjab Planning and Development Department, ended on a note of optimism as recommendations in this regard have been finalised. Attended by a large number of food and healthexperts,researchers, academicians and journalists, the seminar provided a platform to highlight the high levels of malnutrition in the country and also recommended the possible ways to improve the access to nutritious foods.
Unfortunately, 2.2m people in Punjab, particularly children and women, are facing the problem of malnutrition and stunting. Therefore, the provision of clean drinking water and pure food to the people, promotion of breastfeeding among mothers and adoption of healthy lifestyles are important if we really want to safeguard our future generations from this stunting trend.
Since food fortification is a globally recognised strategy to address dehciencies of micro-nutrition, every effort should be made to improve access to nutritious food.
