Pakistan, EU sign €60 million accord to improve nutrition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and European Union (EU) on Friday signed an agreement for improving nutrition in Sindh with financial assistance of €60 million.

According to an official announcement made by the Finance Division, the government of Pakistan and European Union signed the financing agreement in a ceremony at the Ministry of Finance.

Economic Affairs Division (EAD) secretary Shahid Mahmood signed the agreement on behalf of the government of Pakistan, while Jean-Francois Cautain, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Pakistan, signed it from the EU side.

The agreement will also align and actively support the ongoing Accelerated Action Plan for the Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition in Sindh. Stunting has become worst and a major problem in Pakistan, and now EU will focus in Sindh where malnutrition and stunting has resulted in short height among growing youth of the country.

Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs, statistics and privatisation, witnessed the signing ceremony.

Dar appreciated EU’s assistance for improving nutrition in Sindh. He said Pakistan and EU share a long history of cooperation in a wide range of areas. He appreciated EU’s support as a development partner of Pakistan.

EU Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain said the project would help overcome the problem of malnutrition in Sindh. The scope and objective of the agreement is to primarily increase the capacity of the Sindh government so that it might efficiently implement its nutrition multi-sectoral policy, while providing direct assistance to significantly and rapidly reduce malnutrition in Sindh.

Under this programme various activities will be carried out including policy and
advocacy, support in improving national procedures, capacity building of local stakeholders, strengthening Sindh government’s nutrition-specific information management systems, and creating awareness about the significance of nutrition-related issues.