‘Combating malnutrition’ top priority of govt: Atif

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food, IT, and Science and Technology Minister Atif Khan on Wednesday termed “combating malnutrition” as the top priority of the incumbent provincial government.

Addressing a training course on edible oil, ghee fortification, quality assurance and quality control, he said the government is focusing on providing a balanced food diet to the public and has launched various programmes in this regard.

The training course was arranged by Fortification Program of Nutrition International Pakistan in Peshawar.

“Malnutrition is a great challenge for our region and food fortification is the only solution to this”, he said, adding that a good and balanced nutrition is essential for a child’s healthy growth and development as it contributes to the child’s capacity to learn and to be productive.

The food minister further said the establishment of the Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has significantly improved the quality of food in the province.

He highlighted that food testing laboratories are being set up to strengthen the Food Safety Authority.

A state of the art food testing laboratory would be made in Peshawar by the end of this year which would further improve and ensure the quality of food items, the senior minister added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2021.