STAFF REPORT IBD: There is no policy existing in Pakistan for food and nutrition security to meet food requirement. However, the present Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) is launching the Zero Hunger programme to meet food and nutrition requirements of the rapid growing population.
“The government is also working for the preparation of such policies which are suitable to all stakeholders for poverty eradication and promotion and development of agriculture sector to provide nutritious food to every citizen on affordable prices,” said Abdul Basit Khan, Additional Secretary, while addressing a recently held convention of the Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (AAHM) in Islamabad.
In his remarks, DG NARC Dr. Muhammad Azeem said that Pakistan is globally ranked 11th facing the risk of food insecurity. In Pakistan about one third of the population is living below the food poverty line as they are not able to meet their nutritional requirements.
Pakistan agriculture needs to provide healthy food to this population with some modest surpluses exports. The fact is that to achieve this substantial increase in crop productivity is to be targeted using lesser land and water resources than are available for agriculture today.
The AAHM mission is to promote a coordinated initiative to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and to Develop a global partnership for development.