To tackle the consequences of Pakistan’s high burden of stunting and childhood malnutrition, Pakistan is all set to launch Rs 500 billion programme in the regard.

While addressing an event in Islamabad regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) initiative, Special Advisor to PM Khan on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza said,

“We are developing the largest public sector project in Pakistan’s history focused on human nutrition.”

The event, ‘The Health and Health Related SDGs: Current Status and Opportunities in Pakistan’, was organized by the Ministry of National Health Services, Aga Khan University, Aga Khan Foundation-Canada, the University of Toronto, and Canada’s International Development Research Centre.

Dr Mirza said the project, which was in the closing stages of receiving Public Sector Development Program approval, will use inter-sectoral collaborations to implement the 12 most proven nutritional interventions.

He said that experts from all sectors, including academics and researchers, will join hands to overcome the country’s development challenges.

Dr. Mirza went on to say that policies focused on tackling the climate change threat was another priority area for the government..

“Climate change represents a threat to our health, agriculture and human survival,” he remarked.