ISLAMABAD: National Nutrition Forum (NNF) on Thursday discussed the progress nutrition programs and policies in Pakistan.
The meeting, held at the Planning Commission, chaired by Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, attended by officials from the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives (MoPDSI), Federal ministries, provincial Planning and Development departments, bilateral agencies, UN, INGOs, and development partners.
The meeting, part of the National Nutrition Forum (NNF) at the Planning Commission, aimed to harmonize nutrition initiatives, promote coordination, and plan policies nationwide.
The Secretary of MoPDSI underscored the government’s commitment to addressing malnutrition, emphasizing the integral role of nutrition in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He introduced the Pakistan Nutrition Initiative (PANI), a Multi-Sectoral National Nutrition Program targeting 36 high-stunting districts across the country. PANI focuses on healthy dietary practices, wasting and stunting prevention and treatment, local solutions, advocacy, public-private partnerships, and early childhood development.
National Nutrition Forum Recommendations
The Chief Nutrition MoPDSI presented the nutrition landscape and PANI’s importance, highlighting compliance with previous NNF recommendations.
Nadia Rahman, Member of the Planning Commission’s Finance and Coordination Committee (FS&CC), stressed the importance of multi-sectoral coordination, integration down to the household level, and encouraged nutrition development partners to align their resources with PANI. She proposed tracking nutrition investments, mapping ongoing activities, and conducting a multi-sectoral nutrition survey for updated data.
Participants applauded government efforts, particularly PANI, in addressing malnutrition. They emphasized the need to address underlying determinants of malnutrition, especially in light of factors like COVID-19 and floods, and highlighted the importance of up-to-date data for effective planning and programming.
