Matrix Report
Islamabad, October 01, 2021: Parliamentarians pledged their support for the enactment of mandatory food fortification legislation to address the alarming levels of micronutrient malnutrition during a meeting at National Assembly of Pakistan hosted by Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs in collaboration with Nutrition International and National Food Fortification
Alliance /Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination.
Draft legislation on Mandatory Food Fortification prepared under Nutrition International’s Technical Assistance for Nutrition (TAN) Project was presented before the parliamentarians. Ms. Munawara Bibi Baloch, Member National Assembly and Convener of the SDG 2 Sub Committee
termed the bill critical for addressing malnutrition among children and women. She assured the parliamentarians’ support for the bill, saying its passage would be a milestone in meeting the SDG 2 targets. She added that ground realities should be kept in mind when finalizing the draft bill.
Legislators including Ms. Syma Nadeem, Ms. Fauzia Behram, Ms. Nusrat Wahid, Ms. Uzma Riaz, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro and Mr. Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali offered their full support for the approval of the law from the parliament. They also stressed on launching a nationwide
campaign to promote consumption of healthy and diversified nutritious foods.
Dr. Khawaja Masood Ahmed, National Coordinator Nutrition and National Fortification Alliance at the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations, informed the parliamentarians about how malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies were adversely affecting the health of children
and women in Pakistan. He said the government of Pakistan is committed to improving health of children and women.
Dr. Shabina Raza Country Director Nutrition International appreciated leadership of parliamentarians for their legislative support and allocation of resources for nutrition. She said, malnutrition is holding the country back, costing Pakistan 3% of its GDP ― an estimated 7.6 billion US dollars every year. This is why increasing investments in nutrition and spending them effectively is crucial. Awareness and leadership are important, but without the appropriate resources and action, they do not lead to the change we need. She added, Nutrition International is committed supporting Pakistan’s efforts to improve the nutrition and health of pregnant women, newborns, infants and young children ― and reinforce the strong foundations it has already built towards the achievement of its nutrition targets.
