KARACHI: Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR), Nestlé Pakistan and the Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST), jointly commemorated World Food Safety Day 2026 under the theme “From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere.”
The event brought together key government representatives, regulators, academia, industry leaders, and students to advance dialogue on strengthening Pakistan’s food safety ecosystem.
Distinguished participants included Dr Kiran Khurshid, Secretary, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department (FS&CPD), Punjab; Jason Avanceña, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Pakistan; and leadership from provincial food authorities, including the Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan Food Authorities, as well as the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority.
The discussions focused on food safety, quality, traceability, nutritional labelling, and food information for consumers, with an emphasis on practical, science-based, and locally relevant approaches to strengthen consumer understanding and enable informed choices. In his remarks, Jason Avanceña highlighted that “at Nestlé, food safety is not just a priority—it is our license to operate, our foundation of trust, and our most important responsibility to consumers.” Dr. Kiran Khurshid underscored the importance of collective action, emphasizing that government, regulators, academia, and industry must work together in this shared responsibility to advance safer food systems and collaborative progress.
Dr. Ijaz, Director General, PCSIR, highlighted research as a vital tool for strengthening food safety systems. Munir Hussain Chopra, Director Planning & Coordination, Punjab Food Authority, emphasized that effective planning, enforcement, and consumer awareness are essential to advancing safe food practices across the value chain. Dr. Ahmed Ali Sheikh, Director Technical, Sindh Food Authority, noted that addressing food safety risks in unpackaged food requires stronger implementation, technical oversight, and continuous engagement with food businesses and consumers. Habib Ullah Khan, Director General, Balochistan Food Authority, stated that safe food for all can only be achieved through strengthened provincial capacity, regulatory collaboration, and practical solutions that reach consumers in every region.
Prof. Dr. Imran Pasha, Dean, Faculty of Food, Nutrition & Home Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, highlighted the role of academia in generating evidence, building capacity, and supporting science-based solutions for safer food systems. Prof. Dr. Shinawar Waseem, Secretary, Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists, emphasized that professional and scientific platforms such as PSFST can help bridge academia, regulators, industry, and consumers to support evidence-based food safety improvements.
The dialogue also highlighted the importance of aligning nutrition labelling approaches with Codex principles and international best practices, while ensuring that any front-of-pack system remains evidence-based, consumer-friendly, and suitable for Pakistan’s public health and socio-economic context. Participants noted the front-of-pack nutritional labelling approach proposed by PSFST and industry associations, drawing from international models such as the US FDA, which provide simple, at-a-glance information on key nutrients through interpretive indicators rather than warning-based messaging.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments