Quetta, The Provincial Health Minister of Balochistan, Sardarzada Faisal Khan Jamali, has highlighted the critical need for a comprehensive National Healthy Diets Policy during a consultation workshop organized by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination. This initiative aims to address the challenges of malnutrition and improve dietary practices across Pakistan, with a special focus on vulnerable populations in Balochistan.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Balochistan, the workshop brought together key stakeholders including government officials, academic and research institutions, development partners, and nutrition experts. The event was part of a broader effort to develop a policy framework that caters to the diverse nutritional needs of Pakistan’s population, integrating valuable insights from various provincial contexts.
During the workshop, Secretary Health Saleh Muhammad Baloch elaborated on the importance of the policy for ensuring food quality and availability, particularly for children’s health. He acknowledged the significant contributions from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and other partners. The Balochistan Health Department’s commitment to addressing issues like child wasting, food safety, and water-borne diseases was reaffirmed, placing healthy diets at the forefront of the policy agenda.
Faiz Rasool, Head of Policy and Advocacy, presented startling statistics highlighting the acute challenges of malnutrition in Pakistan, where 40.2% of children under five are stunted, and about 83% of the population lacks access to a healthy diet. He advocated for policy shifts such as taxing unhealthy foods and incentivizing healthier choices to combat these issues effectively.
Dr. Khawaja Masood from the Federal Ministry of Health discussed the limitations of previous efforts due to poor coordination and resource constraints, and he underscored Pakistan’s commitment to integrating healthy diets into the national food and nutrition policy through international collaborations like the Coalition of Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for Children and All (HDFSS).
The workshop also featured presentations from GAIN, providing a detailed contextual analysis and urging the swift development of a robust national policy. An International Research Force (IRF) presentation outlined the proposed policy framework, inviting technical feedback from participants, who engaged in dynamic group activities to identify key policy focal areas.
This collaborative consultation is a crucial step toward establishing a sustainable food system and promoting a healthier future for all of Pakistan, reflecting the provincial context and the nation’s diverse needs.