UN FAO stresses steps to ensure food security

United Nations ( UN) Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) Thursday urged the need for steps to ensure food security in Pakistan, particularly in the rural areas to ensure global food security and eradicate hunger.

The chief of FAO mission in Pakistan Ms Mina Dowlatchahi in her interview with Radio Pakistan said food security and scarcity of hygienic food is an international issue and FAO is taking measures to address it seriously.

A comprehensive food security survey should be undertaken so that policymakers could plan on the basis of ground realities, she added.

Policy reforms, investment and innovative ways to increase production and access to food could alleviate the problem, she mentioned.

The deputy chief of FAO in Pakistan Farrukh Toirov also said his organization is making endeavors to ensure Zero Hunger all over the world. He said private sector and non- governmental organizations could play a major role in redressing the issue of food shortage.

Assistant Chief FAO Mission, Amir Irshad emphasized the need for expanding the network of farm- to- market roads to enable the farmers to reach food products to big markets.

Meanwhile, with advent of chilly weather, especially at night, all across the country including the capital, demand for variety of ' Soups' has increased manifold among citizens as it considered to be one of the favorite winter delight during the season.

Indeed winter has

brought plenty of delights for citizens, but ' Thai, Chinese, Vegetable and traditional Chicken corn soup' are most selling items in it as a large number of men, women and youngsters come to food outlets to keep their body worm.

Vendors also set up their temporary stalls at various vantage points in almost all ciites of the country to attract the customers specially youngsters to enjoy wintery nights with winter specialty.

According to stall holders, no doubt with each passing day restaurants are offering new variety of soups for citizens but the traditional chicken corn soup is widely liked by customers.

A considerable rush is witnessed at traditional soup stalls in different areas where corn soup is selling like hot cake, said a customer Ali Muhammad.

The owner of a

restaurants also said they were getting online orders for special Thai and Chinese soup and the demand is gradually rising.

Another stall holder Hashim said the business with falling mercury.

"Chicken corn soup has a good demand in chilly nights of winter. During the season we open shop at 6 pm every day and sometimes my workers keep busy till late night to cater the demand", said a seller.

A family in restaurant while ordering special soup commented, it is a winter specialty and its rate is quite affordable for us so they always proffered chicken soup with its healthy ingredients.

Thai Soup in Fast food restaurants is not only comforting but is totally value for money, said another 26 year old customer.

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