LAHORE: Malnutrition in food is a major problem. Pakistan is one of the largest wheat consuming countries in the world. Wheat consumption in Pakistan is 87 kg per capita per annum and zinc deficiency can be overcome through bio-fortification of wheat.

To this end, the Department of Agriculture has implemented a comprehensive program at a cost of over Rs. 349.50 million, under which new varieties of wheat Zincol 2016 and Akbar 2019 have been introduced for general cultivation having zinc 64% higher than other common varieties of wheat and these varieties are also of high quality in terms of taste.

Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Hussain Jahanian Gardezi while addressing a seminar on bio-fortification of wheat and elimination of zinc deficiency in Lahore.

He said that the Emergency Nutrition Council has been set up on the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan to address the 18.6% zinc deficiency in the country under a comprehensive strategy which has resulted in weakness and loss of appetite in children. And there is a risk of smallpox, which can be removed.

On the occasion, the Minister appreciated the services of agricultural scientists and researchers and said that thanks to the hard work of agricultural scientists day and night, our country is not only achieving success in terms of food security but also introduced different types of crops. He said that the previous governments had neglected the importance of seeds.

He said that the present government was not only introducing approved varieties of seeds to the farmers but steps were being taken for the betterment of Punjab Seed Corporation so that the confidence of farmers could be restored. He said that all stakeholders would have to work together to eradicate malnutrition so our future generations would not suffer from malnutrition and upcoming years would be brighter. In this regard, the Punjab government is also ready to assist private seed companies,he further added.

Managing Director Punjab Seed Corporation Fazlur Rehman, Executive Director Multi Sectoral Nutrition Center Planning and Development Board Punjab Dr Sohail Saqleen, Chief Executive PARB Dr Abid Mehmood, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad Wheat Department Director Dr Javed Ahmed, Country Director Gain Farah Naz, Harvest Plus Representative Dr Muhammad Imtiaz and Chief Executive”AGAHE”Mubarak Ali Sarwar and other speakers also addressed the function.

Special guest Syed Hussain Jahanian Gardezi paid tributes to Dr Sohail Thaqleen, Executive Director, Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Center, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Harvest Plus and Awareness Organization for organizing the seminar.

At the end of the year, the organizer presented a shield to the Punjab Minister of Agriculture.

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