Daily Times

Speakers on Wednesday said that one in two Pakistanis is at risk of under-nutrition with an estimation of 36 percent lives below the poverty line and stressed on the proper policy making for healthy & nutrient foods which should be cheaper than the mal-nutrient ones.

They said this while speaking at a seminar organized by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) in connection with World Food Day 2020 with a theme of “Grow, Nourish, and Sustain Together.”

Government officials, agri scientists, faculty members, students, representatives of non-governmental organizations, progressive male and female farmers across the country participated in the celebration.

Speakers also highlighted the importance of food, food production, food security, nutrition and stressed on the initiating value addition of agriculture products to eradicate poverty and lead the country towards prosperity. Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi, Vice Chancellor, Women University Swabi, shed light on the emerging issue of obesity which is causing many non-communicable diseases and responsible for 58% deaths in the country. She said that a healthy body leads to a strong immune system which makes our body fight against diseases. She also stressed that being food & agriculture scientists it’s our core responsibility to secure food for every individual of the country.

Prof. Dr. Qamar Zaman Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR said there is so much potential in the agriculture sector and our responsibility is to provide and create awareness about new agricultural technology and innovations at small farmer’s doorsteps. He said that society, scientists and teachers should play their due role to create awareness regarding food and other challenges and there is dire need to utilizing scientific measures to produce healthy crops to meet the food requirements of the growing population.