‘Access to safe milk should be considered right not a privilege'
LAHORE: Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minorities & Human Rights, Punjab, has emphasized that access to safe milk should be considered a right, not a privilege. 'Every citizen deserves access to clean, safe, and nutritious milk. Unfortunately, loose milk often contains harmful adulterants like urea, posing serious health risks. Packaged milk, on the other hand, maintains strict quality standards and offers a reliable alternative. The government of Punjab is acutely aware of the province's malnutrition challenges and is committed to ensuring safe milk reaches every household. We also recognize the negative impact of the current taxation on packaged milk and are working to address this as part of our broader health and nutrition agenda.'
Romina Khurshid Alam, Minister of State & Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, emphasized the essential role of milk in ensuring nutritional well-being. 'When we talk about health and nutrition, milk stands out as the one element that completes the nutrition cycle. In the fight against malnutrition, a single glass of milk can make a significant difference - it's one of the healthiest, most complete foods we can provide.'
They were speaking at recently convened a national seminar in Lahore to commemorate World Milk Day under the theme 'Safe Milk, Safe Nation: Affordable Dairy for a Healthier Nation.' The Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) hosted the event which brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, and dairy experts to advocate for a national shift toward safer, regulated milk and to explore the strategic role of the formal dairy sector in enhancing public health, food security, and sustainable economic development.
'According to WFP, stunting is costing Pakistan an estimated $6 billion annually. We must learn from global success stories. For example, China launched a school milk program in 2000 and saw measurable improvements in child growth 0.72cm in 7-year-olds and 0.46cm in 9-year-olds. They have successfully tackled malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies through such initiatives. As Chairman of the PDA, I believe it's time we ask ourselves: what do we need to do differently to achieve the same for our children?' said Usman Zaheer, Chairman – Pakistan Dairy Association and CEO Fauji Foods Ltd. He also expressed his gratitude to key government stakeholders for their ongoing support and emphasized the urgent need to address the country's nutrition crisis through strategic interventions like school milk programs.
Dr Shehzad Amin, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Dairy Association, opened the seminar by highlighting the central role of dairy in public health and national development. He said, 'World Milk Day is not just a celebration — it is a global moment to acknowledge nature's most complete superfood and its profound impact on nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and economic growth. Initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this day honours the tireless efforts of millions of dairy farmers while spotlighting the sustainable development opportunities the dairy sector offers. At PDA, our mission is firmly rooted in ensuring that safe, nutritious, and affordable dairy is accessible to every citizen. We believe and advocate that safe milk is not a choice, but a fundamental right of every Pakistani.'
Adding to this perspective, Noor Aftab, Director Corporate Affairs – Pakistan & MENA at Tetra Pak, highlighted the importance of innovation in dairy processing and packaging. 'Milk is more than daily nutrition — it's a cornerstone of public health, food resilience, and economic progress. Through advanced technologies and collaborative efforts, we are committed to making safe, affordable dairy accessible to every household in Pakistan,' he noted.
The seminar featured in-depth discussions on regulatory reforms, standardization, certification, and enforcement mechanisms necessary to ensure the safety of milk. Key officials, Jahan Ara Wattoo, Vice Chairperson, Punjab Social Protection Authority, Dr Talat Naseer Pasha – DG PAFDA, Amina Rafique, ADG Technical, Punjab Food Authority, and Saqib Ali Ateel, Secretary for Livestock & Dairy Development, shared institutional strategies for quality assurance and public awareness. The role of the private sector in driving innovation and ensuring a consistent supply of safe milk was also a central theme.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
‘Access to safe milk should be considered right not a privilege'
LAHORE: Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minorities & Human Rights, Punjab, has emphasized that access to safe milk should be considered a right, not a privilege. 'Every citizen deserves access to clean, safe, and nutritious milk. Unfortunately, loose milk often contains harmful adulterants like urea, posing serious health risks. Packaged milk, on the other hand, maintains strict quality standards and offers a reliable alternative. The government of Punjab is acutely aware of the province's malnutrition challenges and is committed to ensuring safe milk reaches every household. We also recognize the negative impact of the current taxation on packaged milk and are working to address this as part of our broader health and nutrition agenda.' Romina Khurshid Alam, Minister of State & Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, emphasized the essential role of milk in ensuring nutritional well-being. 'When we talk about health and nutrition, milk stands out as the one element that completes the nutrition cycle. In the fight against malnutrition, a single glass of milk can make a significant difference - it's one of the healthiest, most complete foods we can provide.' They were speaking at recently convened a national seminar in Lahore to commemorate World Milk Day under the theme 'Safe Milk, Safe Nation: Affordable Dairy for a Healthier Nation.' The Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) hosted the event which brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, and dairy experts to advocate for a national shift toward safer, regulated milk and to explore the strategic role of the formal dairy sector in enhancing public health, food security, and sustainable economic development. 'According to WFP, stunting is costing Pakistan an estimated $6 billion annually. We must learn from global success stories. For example, China launched a school milk program in 2000 and saw measurable improvements in child growth 0.72cm in 7-year-olds and 0.46cm in 9-year-olds. They have successfully tackled malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies through such initiatives. As Chairman of the PDA, I believe it's time we ask ourselves: what do we need to do differently to achieve the same for our children?' said Usman Zaheer, Chairman – Pakistan Dairy Association and CEO Fauji Foods Ltd. He also expressed his gratitude to key government stakeholders for their ongoing support and emphasized the urgent need to address the country's nutrition crisis through strategic interventions like school milk programs. Dr Shehzad Amin, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Dairy Association, opened the seminar by highlighting the central role of dairy in public health and national development. He said, 'World Milk Day is not just a celebration — it is a global moment to acknowledge nature's most complete superfood and its profound impact on nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and economic growth. Initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this day honours the tireless efforts of millions of dairy farmers while spotlighting the sustainable development opportunities the dairy sector offers. At PDA, our mission is firmly rooted in ensuring that safe, nutritious, and affordable dairy is accessible to every citizen. We believe and advocate that safe milk is not a choice, but a fundamental right of every Pakistani.' Adding to this perspective, Noor Aftab, Director Corporate Affairs – Pakistan & MENA at Tetra Pak, highlighted the importance of innovation in dairy processing and packaging. 'Milk is more than daily nutrition — it's a cornerstone of public health, food resilience, and economic progress. Through advanced technologies and collaborative efforts, we are committed to making safe, affordable dairy accessible to every household in Pakistan,' he noted. The seminar featured in-depth discussions on regulatory reforms, standardization, certification, and enforcement mechanisms necessary to ensure the safety of milk. Key officials, Jahan Ara Wattoo, Vice Chairperson, Punjab Social Protection Authority, Dr Talat Naseer Pasha – DG PAFDA, Amina Rafique, ADG Technical, Punjab Food Authority, and Saqib Ali Ateel, Secretary for Livestock & Dairy Development, shared institutional strategies for quality assurance and public awareness. The role of the private sector in driving innovation and ensuring a consistent supply of safe milk was also a central theme. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Express Tribune
1,514 stray dogs neutered in K-P
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Livestock and Dairy Development Department has successfully neutered 1,514 stray dogs besides vaccinating around 5,048 canines in seven divisions in the past year as part of its efforts to control rabies and stray dog overpopulation. "The Livestock Department had extended the stray dog neutering programme from the provincial metropolis to the divisional level around a year earlier during which 1,514 stray dogs were neutered," said Muhammad Riaz Khan, Senior Veterinary Officer. The initiative of dog neutering had initially been launched in Peshawar in 2020 as a pilot project with the objective of controlling the population of stray dogs to eventually contain the deadly zoonotic disease of rabies caused by dog bites, Riaz said. The drive was a replication of the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended programme 'Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return' (TNVR) to control rabies and the overpopulation of street dogs, Riaz Khan explained. Realising positive results in the form of a 50 per cent decrease in cases of dog bite in Peshawar, the Livestock Department had decided to extend the project to the divisional level. He said the department had also prepared a summary for extension of the drive to the whole of the province at the district level for which an operation theatre would be set up at the Veterinary Hospital for the neutering of stray dogs. "The department has already started training its staff members for operations to neuter dogs which would make them incapable of reproducing," he said. Apart from that, he continued, the Livestock Department and the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) were jointly working for the establishment of a 'Dog Shelter Home' in Peshawar in the Regi Lalma area. He said the shelter home would be a sanctuary for injured, disabled, sick and old stray dogs which would be provided food and necessary medicines. The PDA has proposed the establishment of the dog shelter home on a four-kanal area of land. It would be constructed at a cost of around Rs15 million. This would be the first-ever government-owned dog shelter home in the province which would serve as a role model for a replication of the initiative in other districts. He further said that the neutering of stray dogs was proving beneficial in controlling the deadly rabies disease, adding that the department had also sought fresh data on dog bites and rabies for Peshawar and its adjoining districts from the Health Department to evaluate the performance of the project.
Express Tribune
19-01-2025
- Express Tribune
Health project may end due to delays
PESHAWAR: Official sources in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department fear the collaboration with the Bill Gates Foundation on the establishment of health units may come to an end due to unexpected delays. The Local Government (LG) Department has not been able to identify sites and issue a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the project. The Bill Gates Foundation had offered to fund construction of 15 health centres for the K-P Health Department, targeting 55 high-risk areas for polio, sources told The Express Tribune. Although the Local Government Department has identified four potential sites for the centres, it has yet to issue the necessary notifications for land procurement and the NOC for the project. If the land is not provided to the Gates Foundation until March, the project will likely be terminated and further funding from the foundation stopped, which would be a blow to K-P's efforts to overcome the increasing number of polio cases in the province. The sources further stated that, under the project, new buildings for polio vaccinations and immunizations as well as health centres would be constructed on these sites. As part of the agreement, the foundation will build solarized health centres once the land is provided by the provincial government for the purpose. The Bill Gates Foundation has been instrumental in the set-up of 15 health centres in rented buildings across Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Tank, and North and South Waziristan since 2020. As per the agreement, they will continue to cover expenses of these health centres until December, 2025. According to the sources, prior to the establishment of the health centres, the coverage provided by the anti-polio campaign in high-risk union councils had only been 49 per cent which, following the creation of the 15 health centres, had risen to 80 per cent. Health Secretary Adeel Shah has confirmed that a request had been made to the Local Government Department to provide sites and an NOC for the Basic Health Units (BHUs), and they were working diligently to complete the project as soon as possible. It may be mentioned here that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had agreed to collaborate on enhancing Pakistan's climate resilience. The agreement had been forged during a high-level Climate Adaptation Roundtable hosted by Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister's Coordinator for Climate Change, in June last year. The roundtable had been convened at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters and been co-hosted by NDMA Chairperson Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik. During the event, Romina Khurshid Alam had briefed Bill Gates on the diverse impacts of climate change across sectors in Pakistan and highlighted how the country's socio-economic gains were increasingly vulnerable to climate-related challenges.
