Lahore: In line with the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif for ‘A Healthy Punjab, Prosperous Pakistan,’ Punjab Food Authority has launched a commendable public health initiative aimed at improving citizens’ well-being.
Nutrition Wing of PFA has introduced ‘Healthy Winter Recipes’ comprising a variety of delicious, nutritious and calorie-rich meal plans. These recipes have been specially designed to provide strength and improve health during the harsh winter season.
Director General PFA Asim Javaid said that the dietary recipes have been developed by incorporating essential nutrients while keeping in view disease prevention and overall health improvement. He said that, with the support of UNICEF, PFA has further enhanced its capacity by adding state-of-the-art body composition analyzers and bone densitometer machines.
He said that the modern equipment will facilitate convenient screening of children, elderly citizens and individuals of all age groups. He said that height, weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat and other basic health parameters can now be assessed using the latest machinery.
He said that advanced densitometer machines will be used for comprehensive bone health screening of children and people of all ages. Emphasizing the importance of nutrition, he said that school-going children require balanced and nutrient-rich diets alongside education for proper physical development.
DG said that timely improvement in children’s height and weight is possible only through vitamin-rich food. He said that children’s nutritional requirements vary according to their growth stages and physical activity levels.
Muhammad Asim Javaid stated that one-year-old child requires approximately 800 calories per day while a 10-year-old child needs around 2,000 calories daily. He further said that to overcome iron deficiency in children, a daily intake of 7-10 mg of iron is essential.
The Director General added that under the Chief Minister’s Healthy Punjab Mission, teams of nutrition experts are providing free dietary guidance at PFA offices for the promotion of a healthier society.