BY HINA KIYANI
ISLAMABAD: Speakers of consultation session on Tuesday urged the government to formulate a Pakistan National Healthy Diet Policy (PNHDP) to encourage healthy eating practices and to address the burden of disease in the country.
Led by Director Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Steve Godfrey, a team of the alliance currently visiting Pakistan, held a consultation session with Director Nutrition/Health Programs, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), Government of Pakistan Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai.
In the discussion, the need for a National Health Diet Policy for Pakistan was emphasized, Steve Godfrey, shared the GAIN’s vision on food systems transformation and healthy diets. Godfrey said that globally, three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet and in Pakistan, more than two third of the country’s population which is about 68 percent of Pakistanis cannot afford a healthy diet.
Poor diet contributes to six of the top ten risk factors for the global disease burden, Godfrey said, adding that we are confident that this policy provides a roadmap for the country to ensure the provision of a nutritious and healthy diet for its population but also overcome the challenges posed by a high prevalence of malnutrition.”
Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai, Director of Nutrition/Health Programs, MNHSR&C said, “To address the challenge of ensuring the availability and consumption of healthy, safe, and nutritious diets by all population groups, the Government of Pakistan is committed to formulating a National Healthy Diet Policy with the technical assistance of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). This policy will provide strategic guidance for the country to ensure the provision of a healthy and nutritious diet for all and formulate robust approaches in light of international best practices that will help us address the challenges occurring because of the consumption of unhealthy diets.”
Faiz Rasool, Senior Policy Advisor, GAIN shared the objectives of the consultation session, and Dr. Khawaja Masuood Ahmed, National Coordinator, MNHSR&C gave the background and shared the Government of Pakistan’s political commitment to improve access to healthy diets. Ms. Farrah Naz, Country Director, GAIN thanked the participants for their valuable contribution and shared the way forward. The consultative session was also attended by the development partners like World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP), Nutrition International (NI), and other key stakeholders.
MoNHSR&C and GAIN have formed a National Technical Advisory and Advocacy Group for the formulation of “Pakistan National Healthy Diet Policy” which is working on formulating a National Healthy Diet Policy to guide the current and future diet-related interventions and support the Government of Pakistan for ensuring the availability and consumption of healthy, safe and nutritious diets by all population groups, particularly those at risk, leading to improved overall nutrition indicators for Pakistan. The consultative meeting has kick started the policy formulation process.
