Nutrition International, in collaboration with the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and GIZ, organized an awareness and training session in Swat. The session was attended by officials and representatives from the Food Department, Food Safety & Halal Food Authority, and BISP.
Speaking on the occasion, Zohra Aslam, Director General of BISP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated that the program has been launched under the name Social Protection Program for Adolescent Girls Nutrition SOPRAN, at Babuzai Tehsil of Swat District selected as its pilot area. She expressed hope that this nutrition supplement initiative would be successful and eventually expanded across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.
During the awareness session, Dr. Yasir Durrani, Associate Professor at the University of Agriculture Peshawar, and Dr. Attaullah Jan from Bacha Khan University delivered special lectures. They emphasized the importance of quality food and hygiene for human health and urged relevant departments to formulate policies prioritizing public health.
Additional Secretary of the Food Department, Ashfaq Ahmed and Director of Food, Musarrat Zaman, also participated in the session, providing a detailed briefing on food and nutrition. Arbab Raees Khan, Zonal Manager of the SOPRAN Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, shared project details, while Dr. Aziz Ahmad, District Director of BISP, highlighted the session’s significance for both the public and relevant institutions.
Imtiaz Ali Shah, Provincial Program Manager of Nutrition International, briefed the participants on the organization’s objectives and the project’s aims. He also expressed gratitude to officials and representatives from BISP, GIZ, the Food Department, and the Food Safety & Halal Food Authority for their participation and support. He stressed the need for collective efforts among institutions to build a healthier society.
The session was attended by representatives from Nutrition International, including Sher Aman and Rashid Saleem, among others. At the conclusion of the session, certificates were distributed among the participants, and shields were presented to the distinguished guests.
