47. Pakistan Economic Survey 2011-12 - Consultancy Services in ...

Pakistan Economic Survey 2011-12Table:11.7 Food Availability per capitaItems Year/ units 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (E) 2011-12 (T)Cereals Kg 151.1 158.1 160.3 158.8 158.7 160.0Pulses Kg 7.7 7.2 5.8 6.8 6.7 7.0Sugar Kg 30.3 30.0 25.6 26.1 26.5 29.5Milk Ltr 164.7 165.4 167.2 169.1 169.8 170.0Meat Kg 19.2 20.0 20.0 20.5 20.9 21.5Eggs Dozen 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.0Edible Oil Ltr 12.8 12.8 12.5 12.6 12.6 13.0Calories per day 2398 2410 2425 2415 2420 2430Protein per day (gm) 69.0 72.0 72.5 71.5 72.0 72.5Source: Planning & Development DivisionE: estimated T: targetsThe cost of the food basket for the fiscal year2011-12 (July- March) fluctuated and a cumulativeincrease of about 1 percent from Rs.1,745 toRs.1,767 was noted. The change in cost amongprovinces has been highest in KhyberPakhtunkhwa with a 5 percent increase owing tolower availability with respect to demand andlowest in Punjab where there was a 2 percentdecrease.The nutrition related activities/programmes aresummarized below:Food security and social safety net measuresespecially for poor households continued to bein place to combat the impact of food inflation.The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP)and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s Food SupportProgram for poorest of the poor householdscontinued to provide cash incentive supportduring the year throughout the country.Food quality control is also an important foodsecurity concern. A reference food laboratoryfor strengthening of food quality controlsystem at the Nutrition Division of theNational Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabadwas completed during the year and is currentlyoperational.Nutrition improvement through micronutrientsupplementation to address anemia, andvitamin-A deficiency in children under fiveand women of child bearing age continuedalong with growth monitoring, counseling ofbreastfeeding and weaning practices andraising awareness through 98,000 Lady HealthWorkers in primary health care (PHC)continued across the country to cover morethan 60 percent of the total population.Micronutrient Deficiency Control Program toaddress major micronutrient deficiencies ofiodine, iron and vitamin-A& D are beingaddressed through food fortification in thepublic and private sector. The emphasis duringthe fiscal year remained on improving thequality of fortified products.ConclusionThis chapter discussed the state of health andnutrition in Pakistan. An overview of the NationalHealth Policy and its primary objectives arepresented, followed by a discussion of the state ofhealth indicators, expenditures, and facilities inPakistan. The targets and accomplishments for the2011-12 are described, followed by a special focuson cancer treatment and the government’s responseto dengue outbreaks. The chapter highlights thechallenges of narcotics trafficking and growingincidence of drug addiction in Pakistani society.Finally the chapter documents the government’sefforts at augmenting food security and enhancingthe availability and uptake of nutrients.160