The promotion of traditional food, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and eastern lifestyle are essential to fight daunting issue of malnutrition in the country as it has affected more than 45 percent of the population, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa.

He was addressing the inaugural session of two-day seminar titled sensitization seminar on nutrition for media, academia and students at Video Conference Room, National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, UAF. The seminar was arranged by UAF in collaboration with Unicef and Government of the Punjab. Addressing on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor showed his concerned that the students did not take the breakfast as it was causing increasing malnutrition and ailment in the society. He said that we should put focus of our children on the homemade dishes full of energy. He said that simplicity and traditional food habits would help improve the situation. He urged people to use balances usage of diet and to adopt the physical activities in their daily lives. He urged to people to make the routine early to rise, offer prayer and workout that will increase their efficiency and health. He said that excessive eating also lead towards malnutrition and ailment. He said that the Islam gives us complete guidance of giving to others. UAF Faculty of Food Nutrition and Home Sciences Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said malnutrition issue was worsening due to changing life style so that there is a need to create about balanced usage of food. He said that junk food had become common in our lives that are not good for health. He stressed upon the need to enhanced efforts to address the issue of malnutrition and suggested food fortification to address the issue of malnutrition and food insecurity. He said that the NIFSAT was introducing Lassi in packing at its store to foster the trend of desi food in the youth. NIFSAT Director General Dr Tahir Zahoor said that the education about nutritive and balanced food at school level will help overcome the issue. He said that malnutrition has emerged the biggest problem than energy crisis. Dr Irfan Ullah Consultant Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Punjab 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. He said that we should put focus of our children on the homemade dishes full of energy. Unicef representative Uzama also spoke.