World Food Day.

FAISALABAD October 16: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) organised an awareness walk and seminar to mark World Food Day, highlighting the need to combat hunger, malnutrition and food security and safety cahllenges through sustainable food systems, public awareness and research-based interventions. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said food security should not be measured merely by the availability of food but also by its nutritional quality, safety, affordability and accessibility. He stressed that ensuring a healthy and balanced diet for every segment of society was essential to building a healthier and more productive nation. He said malnutrition remained a major challenge, particularly for children and vulnerable communities, and called for coordinated efforts to improve dietary diversity and access to nutritious food The Vice Chancellor said food safety was equally important, as contaminated and substandard food could cause serious health problems. He also called for reducing food waste across the production, storage, transportation and consumption stages to make better use of available resources. Dean Food Sciences Prof Dr Imran Pasha said public awareness about balanced diets and healthy lifestyles was essential to addressing malnutrition. He said contaminated and substandard food posed serious risks to human health, requiring strict adherence to food safety standards at every stage, from preparation and storage to transportation and consumption. Director General NIFSAT Dr Muhammad Issa Khan said effective and sustainable measures were needed to address malnutrition, particularly among children, women and vulnerable groups. He stressed the importance of educating people about nutritional requirements, healthy food choices and safe food practices to improve public health. Deputy Director Punjab Food Authority Mubashir, Dr Ahmad Din and other experts also spoke the event.