Bridging the gap: ‘Processed food can solve nutrient deficiency’

GCUF hosts conference on future of food processing industry in Pakistan.

FAISALABAD:

Processed food can decrease nutrient deficiency in Pakistan, former Punjab governor Khalid Maqbool said on Wednesday.

Addressing the concluding session of the two-day International Food Conference titled Future Perspective of Food Processing Industry in Pakistan, Maqbool said it was a matter of grave concern that Pakistan has been named as a nutrient deficient country.

The event was arranged by Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) Food Sciences Department in collaboration with Higher Education Commission.

Maqbool said Pakistan was among the largest producers of milk, sugarcane, wheat, citrus and a number of other fruits and vegetables. “Despite this, the absence of a food processing industry or traditional preserving methods means much of the output is lost,” he said.



He said most people in the country were suffering from chronic diseases due to a low intake of calories. He said the world was changing and people prefer consuming green and high energy foods. “The ecological compatibility of food stuff is increasingly an issue and should be brought up in Pakistan,” he said. He said Pakistan should focus on earning foreign exchange after meeting its own needs.

GCUF Vice Chancellor Dr Zakir Hussain said only four percent of milk production was being processed in the country despite Pakistan being the fourth largest milk producing country in the world.

He said around 50 per cent of Pakistan’s agricultural production was being lost due to traditional methods of preserving. He said food preservation and processing techniques need to be brought at par with developed nations.

He said a committee should be set up to promote food processing and act as a bridge between scientists and industrialists.



The private sector and government, he suggested, should set up a commission for improving the food sector.

HEC Advisor Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi said food wastage also needs to be addressed. He said the HEC was investing in building links between universities and industries, assuring the GCUF of HECs assistance in the cause.

Islamia University of Bahawalpur VC Dr Muhammad Mukhtar said agricultural land was decreasing and residential colonies were being built instead. “Fortunately, we have agricultural scientists who can increase the per acre produce,” he said.

GCUF Dean Dr Noreen Aziz Qureshi said the food processing industry would ensure food quality standards are met. She said the conference’s aim had been to bring scientists and the industry together. As many as 135 research papers were presented at the conference.

Dr Husenie from Iran and Prof Dr Noorul Huddah from Malaysia also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2012.