Govt.’s initiative to reduce hunger to zero by 2030: Sultan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (APP):Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan Tuesday said the incumbent government’s initiative to give top priority to uplift agriculture and conserve water in its first 100 days will gear towards reducing hunger to the zero level in the country by 2030.
The Federal Minister stated this as chief guest at World Food Day at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), here.
He said that World Food Day is celebrated every year for raising awareness of food security and demonstration of solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
“This year’s theme ‘Our actions are our future. A Zero hunger world by 2030 is possible” is relevant to the mandate of Ministry of Food Security and Research,” he remarked.
World Food Day theme of this year, he said, demands strong commitment of multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholder partnerships to mobilize means of implementation.
Moreover, messages from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were read at the ceremony in which the long standing partnership of Government of Pakistan and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was highlighted.
The theme for World Food Day this year-2018 was “Our Actions are our Future. A Zero Hunger world by 2030 is possible.”
Various organizations including Ministry of National Food Security Research, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), FAO of the United Nations, World Food Program (WFP) ,Oxfam and research institutes jointly organized the ceremony.
FAO Representative in Pakistan Minà Dowlatchahi also addressed on the occasion.
Highlighting the completion of 40 years of FAO in Pakistan she said,“We all have to continue to play our respective roles for achieving Zero Hunger in Pakistan. It is encouraging to see Pakistan taking steps in the right direction for reaching this goal. The first National Food Security Policy and the Water Policy provide the framework for action, putting emphasis on agriculture diversification and value addition, resilient climate smart agriculture and water management, improved livelihoods of small holder farmers and tenants, safe drinking water and a National Zero Hunger Program.”
She also read out a message from Jose Graziano da Silva, Director General FAO.
Federal Secretary for Ministry of National Food Security Research (MNFS&R), Hashim Popalzai said that peace, progress and prosperity were greatly linked to the food security in a country.
Government Researchers, NGOs and communities must join hands to achieve this goal with the help of suitable policies, strategies and actions.
FAO and its partners can play a leading role in this regard. Agriculture Researchers should increase their efforts to cope with the emerging challenges of our time like climate change.
Director General NARC, Dr. Ghulam Muhammd Ali paid vote of thanks in the end and said that with the collaboration of international partners we will cope with food security and was confident that working together will find lasting solutions to the root causes of malnutrition in the country and banish hunger to the history books once and for all.