PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Food Dr Muhammad Israr Khan, has said that a healthy citizen is the greatest asset of a family, the province and the country, adding that the provision of safe, quality and nutritious food is among the foremost priorities of the provincial government.
He expressed these views while addressing the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA) and Nutrition International for the institutionalization of Large-Scale Food Fortification in the province.
The ceremony was attended by Secretary Food Shah Mahmood, Director General KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority Kashif Iqbal Jillani, Director Administration Amir Hassan, and Country Director Nutrition International Dr Shabina Raza, along with members of her team.
Dr Israr Khan said that the KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority serves as the backbone of the province’s efforts to ensure the availability of safe, quality and nutritious food. He noted that improving access to fortified foods would help prevent nutrition-related diseases, reduce the burden on hospitals and contribute to improved public health and economic productivity.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Khan Afridi, the provincial government is taking effective and sustainable measures to strengthen food safety and improve the nutritional status of the population. He added that large-scale food fortification would play a significant role in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition, thereby ensuring a healthier future for coming generations.
The Special Assistant further said that the Food Department remains committed to working closely with national and international partners on initiatives aimed at safeguarding public health and promoting food security. “We are ready to extend every possible support for programmes that serve the greater public interest,” he added.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Director General KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority Kashif Iqbal Jillani and Nutrition International Country Director Dr Shabina Raza signed the Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership aims to institutionalize large-scale food fortification across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ensuring greater access to micronutrient-rich, safe and quality food while strengthening collaborative efforts to combat malnutrition in the province.
