‘40pc country’s population facing malnutrition’

FAISALABAD: A multinational company has donated Rs 1 million merit and need-based scholarships for the University of Agriculture Faisalabad students of food and nutrition disciplines.

UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan received a cheque from company regulatory affairs manager Shahzad Sikandar in a meeting at the VC chamber on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that uplift of any society was directly linked with increased literacy and education level. He said that being the agriculture university, the UAF admitted students with a special focus on rural background on district quota.

Keeping the financial constraints of these students in view, the university was providing scholarship to 40 per cent of the total enrolled students. It would enable them to continue the studies that would make their future bright, he added. He said that the country was blessed with the talented people but lack of skilled manpower and low literacy rate were the hindrance to fulfill the dream of development and prosperity. He expressed his concern that 40 per cent of the country’s population was under the grip of malnutrition.

Therefore, it was need of the hour to take revolutionary steps to combat the challenge, he added.

Shahzad Sikandar said: “Developed nations, which have proved their mettle, are used to heavily invest on education and skilled manpower. He said that there were numerous people in the country who could not afford education owing to low income and financial burden. He said that his company was taking all tangible steps to promote education in the country. Talking about the malnutrition, he urged the researchers, policymakers and industry to expedite their efforts to alleviate the hunger and ensure provision of quality and pure food to the people.

He said that his company provided pure and quality food to the people.

Dean Faculty of Food Sciences Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that they were producing quality and skilled manpower which would lead the food industry in particular and the country in general towards the uplift and prosperity. He added that they had launched BS Home Nutrition and Dietetics programme first time in the country.