Speakers at an international workshop on Thursday called for step-up efforts to ensure the food safety; and to fight malnutrition with the adoption of best food habit, healthy lifestyle, and food diversification.

Speakers at an international workshop on Thursday called for step-up efforts to ensure the food safety; and to fight malnutrition with the adoption of best food habit, healthy lifestyle, and food diversification. They addressed an international workshops on Food arranged by National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology (NIFSAT), Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF ) at New Senate Hall . UAF Vice Chancnellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the county was producing the surplus food for the people. But on the other hand, 40 percent of our women and children was malnourished. He said that lack of awareness, nutritive value, unhealthy lifestyle and other factors were causing malnutrition in the country. He said that the poultry industry was contributing to provide the protein to the people that why protein deficiency in the people was low other than other. He said the youth had abandoned the traditional food that was major source to overcome the malnutrition. He said that lack of availability of potable water and pure food were the area of concern that are aggravating the issues. He said that plenty of food/high caloric intake, dependence on impure environmental pollutions, processed foods, and were posing the serious disease threat for the people. He said that the tangible steps were needed to address the issue at the national level. Director General Livestock and Dairy Development Department Dr Abdul Rauf said that they had launched a livestock tool free consultancy service titled 9211 for livestock farmers. He added that the government was making all out efforts to address the problems of the farming community. He said that new initiatives including usage of Information and Communication Technology are being taken to make the sector prosperous and profitable with the awarness and modern tools Dean Faculty of Food Sciences Prof Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that changing lifestyle, junk food, unphysical activities, over-eating and obesity were the root cause of the many diseases. He said that we are spending major share of the income on the food but we are unable to ensure the nutrition. He said that the country share in the halal meat market is negligible and we are not taking the advantage from the potential. He said that they are offering nine degree programe in the food science and has introduced Human Nutrition and dietetics degree to provide the quality manpower. Director General NIFSAT Dr Tahir Zahoor said that academia-industry linkages would bring tangible results to redress the problems of a common man. He said that that high malnutrition population was a serious concern for which collected efforts were need of the hour. He said that demand for the food scientists and nutritionist was increasing every year He said food adulteration was posing a threat for the people. Dr Cheorun Jo from South Korean said called for strengthening academia-industry linkage. We have to pace up the efforts to fight the challenges of malnutrition. Dr Haley Oliver form Perdue University USA said that the people in Pakistan was spending heavy percentage of their income on food. We have to ensure the healthy food habit to fight malnutrition.