Malnutrition has emerged the biggest problem than energy crisis. The country is losing three percent of Gross Domestic Product due to malnutrition compared to energy crisis that causes 2 percent loss to GDP.

Malnutrition has emerged the biggest problem than energy crisis. The country is losing three percent of Gross Domestic Product due to malnutrition compared to energy crisis that causes 2 percent loss to GDP. It was echoed by experts at an international conference on Food and Nutrition arranged by Institute of Home Science, Faculty of Home Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The inaugural session was chaired by University of Reading, United Kingdom’s food expert Gemma Emily Walton. Whereas, Dr Nancy J Allen from University of California USA, Faculty of Food Sciences Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt, Dr Binish Israr, Dr Farah Riaz, Dr Nighat Bhatti, Dr Binish Asad and other notable spoke on the occasion. They experts also revealed that malnutrition was the one of the major cause of death in the children under five years old. It causes death of one million children every year. They stressed upon food fortification as an effective tools to combat the situation. They also recommended that the people should diversify their food as we are only depending upon the wheat and rice as staple food. The experts demanded of the government to include nutrition education as part of curriculum at school and college level to educate the people. It will help address the issue and would lead towards a healthy population. They said in our homeland, it is surprising that 50% of the women and children were malnourished. The maternal and child malnutrition remains the major issue for the country,” Talking about the ironic and vitamins deficiencies, the said in Pakistan, iron deficiency (anaemia) and vitamin A deficiency remains widespread, however, iodine deficiency rate had reduced during the last decade. They said that vitamin D deficiency at high with 60 percent; vitamin A 45 percent. They said Maternal anaemia deficiency stands at 49 and child stunting level 43 percent. They attributed the malnutrition to illiteracy, prices issue, junk food, and lack of awareness about nutrient values of intake. Gemma Emily Walton stressed upon the need to step up efforts to deal with the situation. She said that it was shocking that in Pakistan, 50 percent of the women and children are malnourished. She said that malnutrition education would pave the way to address the issue. Dr Nancy J Allen said that under the Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, they are developing the curriculum of Master in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the UAF that will help produce skilled manpower.