Balochistan Food Authority, in collaboration with Nutrition International, successfully organized a training session at its head office in Quetta.

[Quetta, Balochistan] – Balochistan Food Authority, in collaboration with Nutrition International, successfully organized a training session at its head office in Quetta. The training aimed to educate Deputy Directors, newly appointed field officers, and laboratory staff on the importance of adding additional nutrients to food, the effectiveness of food fortification, and ensuring access to safe food for the people.
The training session was facilitated by esteemed trainers from Nutrition International, including Qavi Khan Achakzai, Provincial Program Manager, Syed Khalil Ahmed, Zonal Manager, and Naqeebullah Nasir, Deputy Director of Balochistan Food Authority. The event witnessed active participation from the attendees who expressed great enthusiasm to learn and implement newfound knowledge in their respective roles.
During the training, Qavi Khan Achakzai highlighted the alarming situation of malnutrition in Balochistan province, as identified by the National Nutrition Survey 2018 conducted by the Government of Pakistan. The survey revealed severe deficiencies of essential nutrients, such as iron and vitamin D, which have been associated with anaemia in pregnant women and children, as well as weak bones in older individuals. Achakzai emphasized that food fortification is a proven strategy adopted by many countries worldwide to address these nutritional deficiencies and enhance the nutritional value of food.
Achakzai further shared that Nutrition International, under its food fortification project, provided 25 flour mills and 10 mills in Balochistan with micro-feeder machinery to add vitamins to flour free of cost. This initiative aims to improve the nutritional content of flour and subsequently help combat malnutrition in the region.
Naqeebullah Nasir, Deputy Director, Balochistan Food Authority, informed the participants that the Food Fortification Law has been formally approved by the provincial assembly in Balochistan. This legislation obligates flour mills and mills to fortify flour with iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B-12, ensuring a nutrient-rich blend that can effectively address malnutrition concerns.
Furthermore, Syed Khalil Ahmed, Zonal Manager of Nutrition International, provided technical insights into the production of fortified flour and highlighted the importance of maintaining quality standards to ensure the efficacy of the fortification process.
The training session proved to be an essential platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and collaboration in combating malnutrition in Balochistan. Balochistan Food Authority and Nutrition International remain fully committed to making significant strides in fortifying food and improving the nutritional well-being of the people.