ISLAMABAD: Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have signed an agreement to collaborate to further the cause of nutrition in Pakistan.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Director SDPI Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said that nutritional security is the most important aspect which is threatened by variety of factors with particular threat from climate change and consumption of micro-plastics. Plastics are highly resistant to degradation and sustain in the environment for a prolonged period resulting in getting way into human food chain.
He said microplastic exposure to humans is caused by foods of both animal and plant origin, food additives, drinks, and plastic food packaging. He said this year Environment Day theme is Plastic Pollution which is a great threat for Pakistan. He emphasized that by reducing micro-plastic consumption, we can ensure proper utilization of food consumed by the humans and avoid plastic-toxicity.
Speaking at the occasion, Faiz Rasool, Senior Policy Advisor, GAIN Pakistan said food safety is an important pillar to ensure food and nutrition security. Therefore, there is a need to work for a national Food Safety Policy in Pakistan and same goes for Multisectoral National Nutrition Policy. He further said that dietary guidelines are available but these need to be translated into the practices and the food consumption approaches. In the backdrop of Nutrition Emergency announced by the Government of Pakistan, there is an immediate need to bring all like-minded organizations to strive for a National Nutrition and National Food Safety Policies. He further added, by working with like-minded organizations, this goal will be achieved.
