Imran Zakir
KARACHI: Department of Food Science and Technology of University of Karachi Organized a Seminar followed by Food Expo on Thursday to mark the importance of World Food Day.
Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, Vice Chancellor attended the seminar as the Chief guest and said that Pakistan is facing a severe food crisis, and unhealthy dietary trends have become a public health alarm. it is unfortunate that many essential commodities still need to be imported.
He emphasized that either our production capacity does not meet our needs, or due to poor planning and flawed policies, a significant portion of produce is wasted before it reaches the market.
So, a significant number of our population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, and any shock to the agricultural economy impacts producers and consumers.
As a key note speaker Associate Professor of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr Syed Muhammad Ghufran Saeed, pointed out a significant lack of healthy and balance diet in Pakistan and stressed on to eat Ketogenic food, this imbalance contributes to high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and other non-communicable illnesses, increasing the health burden and negatively impacting the economy.” Ghufran revealed that the annual per capita fat consumption in Pakistan is between 22 to 24 kilograms, one of the highest levels globally.
The Department of Food Science and Technology of the University of Karachi organized a seminar and food Expo to mark World Food Day on Thursday.
The Program Manager of Food and Agriculture Organization Dr Pedro Andres Garzon Delvaux also highlighted worsening food crisis in Pakistan, driven primarily by devastating floods that have destroyed crops in key agricultural regions like Punjab. These issues combined with climate change and existing poverty, have severely impacted food production and supply chains, leading to rising food insecurity and inflation. the UN’ FAO are warning of a looming hunger crisis, with millions facing acute food insecurity and child malnutrition and stunting growth is on the rise due to low-income level. He urges for agricultural reforms and to control Population growth.
The KU’s Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Dr Musarrat Jahan Yousuf emphasized that World Food Day reminds us that improvement in food safety, production processes, or nutrition research enhances the value of our national food system
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi distributed shields among the leading corporate sponsors of the event including, English Biscuits, Innovata , Falak Rice and Spices, United King Hafiz Sweets and others.
The Food Department of KU arranged students to present food and make it business.
Universities different students group display various Food items on their stalls, a group of students make healthy fruit nuts cake for good health.
The second group made Arabian style nice foods and organic.
Third group us peanuts and brown sugar bars. It’s very healthy.
Fourth students’ variety of sauces and ketchup. Simple food is medicine.
We are what we eat, and our health is based on a balanced diet.
Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, Ketogenic diet all good for holistic health.
Junk food has be banned in university and healthy food be promoted suggested by Food Scientist participating in the Food exhibition.
