National Seminar on Safe Dairy Products for a Secure Future held at Governor House, Peshawar
On the occasion of World Food Day 2026, a national seminar titled “Safe Dairy Products for a Secure Future” was held at the Governor House in Peshawar. The event was attended by representatives from the government, regulatory bodies, universities, the dairy industry, and development partners. The seminar aimed to deliberate on a collective strategy to promote safe milk, food security, improved nutrition, food quality standards, and innovation within the dairy sector.
Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi
Faisal Karim Kundi, Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, attended the seminar as the chief guest and commended the collaborative efforts of various institutions toward ensuring safe milk, better nutrition, and food security. By signing the World Food Day 2026 pledge, he expressed a commitment to the vision of “Safe Milk, Safe Nation.”
Under this commitment, emphasis was placed on ensuring that safe, nutritious, and accessible dairy products reach every child, woman, and family through the mutual cooperation of farmers, the industry, academia, the government, the media, and local communities.
PDA on Safe Dairy Products
Addressing the seminar, Dr. Shahzad Amin, Chief Executive of the Pakistan Dairy Association, stated that over 8 million families in Pakistan’s rural areas rely on livestock for 30 to 40 percent of their income. Highlighting the severity of malnutrition, he noted that more than 40 percent of children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth (low height for their age)—a major challenge for the future potential of the nation’s human capital.
He stressed that access to safe milk is not merely a convenience for a select few, but a fundamental right of every household.
ایندھن کی بڑھتی قیمتیں اور پاکستان کے ڈیری سیکٹر پر اثرات ; ڈاکٹر شہزاد امین
MOU Between UAP and PDA
During the national seminar, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Pakistan Dairy Association and the University of Agriculture, Peshawar. The agreement aims to strengthen ties between academia and the dairy industry, create opportunities for student internships and practical industrial experience, promote joint research and training programs, and develop human resources tailored to the needs of the dairy sector.
Dr. Imran Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, affirmed that the university would play a role in promoting safe food, while also ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food for its students.
He noted that better health contributes to improvements in students’ education, performance, and overall capabilities.
National Assembly Standing Committee Meeting on Livestock and Poultry Reviews Sector Challenges
GAIN on Safe Dairy Products and Value Addition
Ms. Farah Naz, Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), presented the “Way to Value” initiative at the seminar. Under this project, instead of discarding the whey—a byproduct generated during the production of cheese and other dairy products—it is being converted into an affordable, nutrient-rich beverage. This initiative was highlighted as a significant example of transforming dairy waste into valuable food products and enhancing nutrition.
KP Food Authority on Safe Dairy Products
Kashif Iqbal Jilani, Director General of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority, emphasized the need to further improve milk quality testing, effective monitoring, and the enforcement of regulations. He stated that the systems for testing and compliance must be strengthened to remove unsafe and unregulated milk from the market. Secretary of Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, Zarif Almani, highlighted the role of the livestock and dairy sector in providing livelihoods for millions of rural families and its contribution to the national food system.
The event was attended by the Secretary of Agriculture, Director General of Research Dr. Muhammad Ejaz, vice-chancellors from various universities, deans, scientists, experts, prominent representatives from the dairy industry, and other notable figures. On this occasion, Dr. Fazal Majeed, Director of Nutrition at the Health Department, was presented with a ‘Shield of Appreciation’ by the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, in recognition of his services in the field of nutrition.
وزیر اعظم پاکستان کی لائیوسٹاک پوٹینشل پر منعقدہ نیشنل سیمینار میں شرکت ۔۔ تفصیلی رپورٹ
