DG PFA Celebrates World Children’s Day with Students, Highlights Nutrition Challenges

By Dr Ansab Ali
Lahore, Pakistan

Director General Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Asim Javaid celebrated World Children’s Day with students at Government Sulemania Junior Model School, Samanabad, where he joined a cake-cutting ceremony and distributed nutritious meals providing 480 calories per child. This year’s observance was held under the theme “My Day, My Right.”

Speaking on the occasion, the DG announced that the School Nutrition Program will officially launch in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad after the December holidays. He noted that Pakistan presents a mixed picture of children’s health, with many lacking access to nutritious food and a significant number experiencing various forms of malnutrition.

Citing the National Nutrition Survey, he highlighted alarming indicators:

25% of children suffer from zinc deficiency

30% from iron deficiency

40% are stunted

28% are wasted

30% have below-average height for age

He said that inadequate diets, poor access to clean drinking water and limited awareness remain major challenges in rural areas. However, he noted improvement in Punjab due to provincial policies, food safety initiatives, awareness campaigns and the ongoing School Nutrition Program.

Under the program, children receive meals tailored to their age and nutritional needs. On the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the initiative has been expanded to 30 additional schools in Lahore. Currently, 20,000 children in 70 government schools are receiving nutritious meals—an increase from the previous 10,000 children across 40 schools, who were provided 480-calorie meals.

The DG further stated that strict monitoring of school and college canteens is underway. The PFA is conducting regular inspections, surprise checks, sample collection and compliance reporting. Substandard food items are being penalized, and training is being provided to food business operators. Awareness campaigns are also being carried out for parents and students.

He emphasized that the goal of the School Nutrition Program is to protect every child in Punjab from nutritional deficiencies, adding that “healthy children today are the hope for a brighter and better tomorrow.”