Nutrition experts have called for stepped-up efforts to address the issue of malnutrition that is hitting half of the population.

Nutrition experts have called for stepped-up efforts to address the issue of malnutrition that is hitting half of the population. They were addressing at the launching of Student Nutritionists Club Pakistan (SNCP) and a magazine Voice of Nutritionist at a local hotel. Presiding over the session, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said that malnutrition issue was worsening due to changing life style so that there is a need to create about balanced usage of food. He was of the view that junk food had become common in our lives that are not good for health. He called for food fortification to address the issue of malnutrition and food insecurity. He said that effective measures are needed to educate the people about the healthy way of life. He said that simplicity and traditional food habits would help improve the situation. Dean Faculty of Food Sciences, Nutrition and Home Sciences Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that there was the need of food fortification to overcome the issue of malnutrition. He said that 50 percent of population was facing malnutrition. The education about nutritive and balanced food at school level will help overcome the issue. He said that healthy food was essential for the mental and physical growth of the students. He urged people to use balances usage of diet and to adopt the physical activities in their daily lives. He said that we should put focus of our children on the homemade dishes full of energy. National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology Director General Dr Tahir Zahoor said He said vitamin D deficiency at high with 60 percent; vitamin A 45 percent whereas maternal anaemia deficiency stands at 49 and child stunting level 43 percent. SNCP President Hira President Hira Iftikahr and SNCP Secretary General Shoaib Aziz also spoke on the occasion.