Food fortification key to overcoming health challenges in Punjab

2026-02-17 - 14:23

Speakers at a workshop have stressed the need to take all possible measures to tackle the issue of ever-increasing disease burden due to malnutrition. According to them, food fortification was a globally recognised and cost-effective intervention which could serve the purpose of improving public health. Organised by Nutrition International, the workshop highlighted Punjab’s nutrition challenges and discussed the need for an enabling policy and regulatory environment to support sustainable fortification efforts in the province. Punjab faces high rates of stunting, wasting, and anaemia among children, as well as widespread micronutrient deficiencies among women of reproductive age. According to Nutrition International’s Cost of Inaction Tool, the economic burden of malnutrition in Pakistan is estimated at over USD 17 billion (PKR 4.76 trillion) annually, due to productivity losses, increased healthcare costs, and reduced cognitive potential in children. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2018, in Punjab, 31.5% of children under five suffer from stunting, 7.5% from wasting, and 21.2% are underweight, while 42.2% of women and 52% of children under five are affected by anaemia. Food fortification, the addition of essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and D to commonly consumed staples like wheat flour, edible oil, and salt, is globally recognised as a highly cost-effective public health intervention. Every dollar invested in fortification can generate an average return of USD 27 for every dollar invested, through disease prevention, improved productivity, and enhanced lifetime earnings. In Pakistan, fortifying a 20-kg bag of wheat flour costs approximately PKR. 20, and one kilogram of edible oil costs about PKR. 0.75, making it an affordable intervention with a wide population reach. During the discussion, participants highlighted that Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have enacted mandatory fortification measures, and underscored the need for Punjab to form an enabling policy and regulatory framework to support sustainable food fortification and safeguard the health of a large segment of the population. Zameer Haider, Senior Program Manager, Large Scale Food Fortification, Nutrition International, said, “While many families consume sufficient calories, millions continue to suffer from hidden hunger — deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals that weaken immunity, impair cognitive development, and reduce economic productivity.” “As Punjab advances its ‘Healthy Punjab’ vision under the leadership of the Chief Minister, preventive interventions such as food fortification can play a critical role in reducing the burden of micronutrient deficiencies alongside curative services”, he stated. Nutrition-focused reforms integrated in MBBS, BDS curricula