Punjab to begin project to address malnutrition in children

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb met with World Food Programme Country Director Coco Ushiyama on Friday to initiate the “One Thousand Days Programme,” aimed at addressing nutritional deficiencies among stunted children.

To tackle the issue of controlling stunted growth in eight percent of children who are compelled to attend school without breakfast, the senior minister announced the launch of the School Meal Programme.Speaking at the meeting, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasised that the establishment of a nutrition force is one of the priorities of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

She highlighted the need for cooperation regarding population planning, healthcare, sanitation, school education, and the health of stunted children, noting that Punjab, despite being a traditional food basket, is facing malnutrition issues among mothers and children.

Aurangzeb stressed that collaboration with donors and partners is essential to addressing this social issue.The senior minister further mentioned ongoing mechanisation programmes, efforts towards food security, and the provision of modern agricultural machinery to farmers.

She also disclosed plans for the chief minister to soon launch the solid waste management programme, beginning with 16 major cities in the first phase. Additionally, Aurangzeb revealed that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a multisectoral smog action plan will be implemented next week to address environmental challenges and reduce smog.

Expressing confidence in providing substantial assistance, the WFP representative pledged support for university research and development on food scarcity, aquaculture farming, carbon financing, population growth, maternal and child health, environmental changes, and capacity building for farmers.

Meanwhile, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a statement issued here on Friday announced that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a smog prevention cabinet committee will be formed. In this regard, a smog monitoring sectoral cell has been established in the P&D Department, with representatives from each department.

The Punjab government has also decided to establish the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to combat smog and improve the environment. This authority will ensure the effective implementation of environmental protection measures and laws. Additionally, work has begun to establish a legal framework to implement the chief minister's vision for environmental improvement, she added. A rapid action plan has been prepared for the immediate implementation of laws and regulations in every sector, she further said. It has been decided to also establish a special force for environmental protection and digital data will be collected to determine the causes of smog increase.

The senior minister stated that smog, emissions of toxic substances and particulate matter will be curbed and the government will rigorously enforce environmental laws and regulations related to industry and transportation sectors to promote a clean environment.

She made it clear that no brick kiln would operate without zigzag technology; brick kilns without this technology were being phased out and fitness certificates were being mandatory for vehicles. Furthermore, smoke-emitting vehicles and those with faulty engines will be banned. A system for monitoring and certification of vehicles with faulty engines was being introduced and all industries will be mandated to install emission control systems to control toxic emissions, concluded the senior minister.