Daily Times

Sir: The joint report of the planning commission and world food programme, “minimum lost diet in Pakistan” indicates nearly 70 percent of households in Pakistan are unable to provide a staple adjusted nutritious diet.

A direct consequence of this is that children in Pakistan suffer from malnutrition. In urban areas, some 2.5 million children have stunted growth. The stunted children are likely to have their brain, kidneys and other organs affected. The child nutrition statistics is worse in rural areas. In Pakistan, malnutrition is responsible for 54 percent of over 10 million deaths per year in children under age of five. High level of pollution, lack of food security, health care and medical infrastructure are increasing the ratio of child deaths.

This also increases the spread of other diseases especially diarrhoea. Therefore, the concerned authorities should take strong steps for reducing environmental pollution and malnutrition.

ATEEQ GULAB

Kech