Pakistan Food and Nutrition Organization

The Pakistan Food and Nutrition Organization (PFNO) is committed to advancing nutrition and public health in Pakistan. We connect experts, students, and professionals to foster collaboration, innovation, and education in food science and nutrition, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions.

Learn More Become Member
shape image
National Nutrition Awareness Hub

Empowering Pakistan Through Complete Nutrition & Food Security

Dedicated to combating child stunting, promoting mandatory food fortification, and ensuring balanced diets across rural and urban Pakistan. Explore our interactive facts, check your daily calorie needs, and join the fight against malnutrition.

2,719 kcal Daily Availability / Capita
11 Million Facing Food Insecurity
34% Child Stunting Rate
Interactive Feed

Did You Know?

Micronutrient Deficiency Levels (Under 5s)

Vitamin D Deficiency 62.7%
Vitamin A Deficiency 51.5%
Iron Deficiency (Anemia) 28.6%
Mandatory wheat & oil fortification helps bridge these gaps!
Authentic Database

Pakistan Food & Nutrition in Figures

Latest indicators mapped from the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 & UN FAO Reports

Critical Alert Progress Action Verified Indicator
Urgent Concern
0%

Child Stunting Rate

Nearly 34% of children under age five suffer from chronic malnutrition (stunting), hindering physical and cognitive development.

Tag: Children & Stunting Source: Econ Survey 24-25
Critical Status
0%

Undernourished Population

Over 20.7% of the general population remains undernourished due to combined economic pressures and uneven daily intake distribution.

Tag: Food Security Source: Global Hunger Index
Improving Metric
0kcal/day

Daily Calorie Availability

Per capita availability increased to 2,719.69 kcal/day in FY2025. However, access to quality protein-rich sources like pulses and meat remains restricted.

Tag: Food Security Source: Econ Survey 24-25
Emergency Alert
0Million

Acute Food Insecurity

11 million people (22% of the analyzed rural population) face acute food insecurity across 68 climate-shocked districts in Balochistan, Sindh, and KP.

Tag: Food Security Source: UN FAO 2025 Report
Micronutrient Target
0%

Vitamin D Deficiency

62.7% of children suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, accompanied by 51.5% lacking adequate Vitamin A, demanding immediate edible oil fortification.

Tag: Vitamins Source: NNS Bulletin
Maternal Care
0%

Underweight Mothers

23% of pregnant women remain underweight, resulting in 21.4% of newborns starting life with low birth weight, perpetuating cycles of malnutrition.

Tag: Children & Mothers Source: NNS / Survey Data
Opportunity
0%

Exclusive Breastfeeding

Only 38% of infants are exclusively breastfed for their first six months. Enhancing awareness can rapidly bolster natural infant immunity.

Tag: Children Source: SDG 2 Tracker
Enforcement
0%+

Fortified Flour Integration

Over 85% of commercial wheat flour mills enrolled in legislative fortification protocols in Sindh, Balochistan, and KP to combat 28.6% iron-deficiency anemia.

Tag: Vitamins & Grains Source: Nutrition Intl Reports
Diet Deficit
0g/day

Low Protein Intake

Access to quality protein remains low: average pulse intake is just 9.92g/person/day, fish 2.86g, and mutton 2.31g, highlighting diet diversification needs.

Tag: Food Security Source: Econ Survey Data
Mandatory Legislation

Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) Program

Because regular daily diets often lack sufficient diversity, adding essential vitamins and minerals directly to mass-consumed staple foods is the most cost-effective method to eliminate silent hunger and congenital defects.

Wheat Flour Fortification (Atta)

Enriched with Iron, Folic Acid, and Zinc at the milling stage. Mandatory laws passed in Sindh, Balochistan, KP, and Punjab ensure that every staple Roti contributes to reducing the 28.6% maternal anemia crisis.

Edible Oil & Ghee Fortification

Enriched with Vitamins A and D. Essential for boosting infant immune responses and strengthening skeletal structures, mitigating the alarming 62.7% Vitamin D deficiency documented nationwide.

Universal Salt Iodization

Guarding against severe mental retardation and iodine deficiency disorders. PFNO partners with local regulatory authorities to conduct retail testing.

"Fortification doesn't alter the taste, color, or aroma of your traditional meals, but it transforms their life-saving potential." — Punjab Food Authority & NI Guidelines

How Fortification Reaches Every Household

1

Commercial Milling / Refinery

Micro-feeders accurately inject pre-measured high-grade vitamin premixes during raw grain and raw oil processing.

2

Quality Assurance Protocols

Food safety inspectors run spot quantitative tests using digital kits to ensure legal compliance levels before market distribution.

3

Daily Family Consumption

Without buying expensive clinical pills, vulnerable women and children naturally absorb required daily values through standard family meals.

Always check for the official fortified logo when purchasing commercial Atta packets or cooking oil containers.

Interactive JavaScript Suite

PFNO Personal Nutrition Analyzers

Evaluate your body status and calculate your ideal daily Pakistani dietary servings instantly.

BMI & Malnutrition Evaluator

Adults & Youth

Enter your height and weight to assess your baseline nutritional threshold and discover local remedies.

Local Daily Serving Estimator

Staples Customizer

Calculate how to hit the national standard of ~2,400 to 2,700 kcal using our native, cost-effective traditional meals.

Local Food Wheel

The Pakistani Balanced Plate

Achieving complete nutrition doesn't require luxury imports. Pakistan's rich agriculture provides dense nutritional alternatives. Explore the key traditional food groups below:

📌 Nutritionist Tip: Consuming citrus fruits (like Kino or Limoo) alongside daal helps your body absorb up to 3 times more plant-based iron!

Staple Grains (Atta, Rice, Bajra)

50-60% Daily Intake

Whole wheat flour is the primary carbohydrate driver in Pakistan. Because traditional milling removes parts of the wheat germ, mandated fortification restores vital Iron (to combat 28.6% anemia) and Folic Acid required for neural development.

Recommended Local Optimization:

  • Opt for unrefined whole wheat (Chakki Atta) whenever possible.
  • Ensure your miller injects official fortification premix.
  • Mix multi-grain options like Jowar or Bajra during winter months for enhanced slow-release energy.
PFNO National Guidance Zero Hunger Challenge (SDG 2)
Deficiency Crisis

Micronutrient Deficiencies in Pakistan

Pakistan faces a "hidden hunger" crisis — widespread deficiency in essential vitamins and minerals even among those who appear adequately fed.

62.7%
Vitamin D
Deficiency rate among population
51.5%
Vitamin A
Deficiency leads to night blindness
49.8%
Folic Acid
Critical for pregnant women & infants
34.9%
Calcium
Affects bone & dental health
28.6%
Iron
Causes anaemia & fatigue
18.6%
Zinc
Immune system & growth

Organization Objectives

  • Promote Field

    Promote the cause of Food Science & Technology and Nutrition

  • Build Relationship

    Build a strong relationship among academia, Govt. agencies, and NGO's

  • Setup Collaborations

    Set up national and international collaboration for all food science fields in pakistan

feature-mob
  • Improve the Competence

    Improve the professional competence of Food Scientists and Nutritionists

  • Spread Awareness

    Spread awareness about safe and healthy food and its effect on nutritional status

  • Encourage Education and Trainings

    Encourage education and training at all levels in various fields of food science

Total Statics

Statics

We take pride in our numbers, and nothing brings us more joy than watching them grow.

Projects Started

Medical Camps Patients

Members

Coffee Drunk

Photo Gallery

Recent Events

Highlists of our recent events

Testimonial

Our Testimonials

A brief overview about what peopele think about us.

The Board of Dietetic Certification by PFNO is a game-changer for aspiring dietitians. Their rigorous standards ensure that certified professionals are well-equipped to provide top-notch nutritional guidance.

Alina Zafar

Dietitian

The PFNO Jobs Portal helped me find the perfect job opportunity in the food industry. It's a fantastic platform for both job seekers and employers looking for talented professionals.

Muhammad Imran

Food Technologist

The PFNO Library has become my ultimate resource for anything related to food science. It's my first choice whenever I need information or insights about the world of food and health. Thank you, PFNO Library, for being my trusted go-to!

Arsalan Hameed

Food Scientist

The PFNO Library has become my ultimate resource for anything related to food science. It's my first choice whenever I need information or insights about the world of food and health. Thank you, PFNO Library, for being my trusted go-to!

Arsalan Hameed

Food Scientist

The PFNO Library has become my ultimate resource for anything related to food science. It's my first choice whenever I need information or insights about the world of food and health. Thank you, PFNO Library, for being my trusted go-to!

Arsalan Hameed

Food Scientist
Team

Our Professional Team

Our people are our greatest asset and biggest differentiator. They also believe in having a lot of fun along the way.

Muhammad Tahir Habib

Founder & Chairperson

Dr. Noha Sajid

Vice Chairperson

Zunaira Shehzadi

Chief Creative Officer

Waqas Hayder

President

Muhammad Awais

Director General

Sohaib Saeed

Director, Information Technology

Muhammad Hashir Habib

Director, Branding and Marketing

Babar Ali

Director, Public Relation

Muhammad Bilal

Director, Event Management

Awais Akram

Director, Finance




Presence

PFNO Network Across Universities

"Students and professionals from various universities across Pakistan are part of PFNO’s growing network, contributing to Food Science and Nutrition."