The Punjab government, on Thursday, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for the implementation of WFP supported activities in Punjab under its 3-year Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) – “Transition: Towards Resilient and Food-Secure Pakistan”.
Provincial Secretary Planning and Development (P&D) Iftikhar Ali Sahoo and World Food Programme Country Director Pakistan Lola Castro from United Nations jointly signed the MOU on behalf of their respective organizations at P&D Complex, Lahore.
Addressing the Ceremony, Punjab P&D Chairman Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan said that signing of MOU between the Punjab Government and the UN World Food Programme is a very important step to formalising a strong agreement between WFP and the Punjab government for better coordination and extended cooperation with the government departments such as education, food, health, Punjab Social Protection Authority and Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The P&D chairman said this MOU will help in making Punjab a resilient and food secure province. He said that the Punjab government is committed and trying its best to make the province hunger-free by 2030. He said the government will provide all possible resources and technical assistance to the UN World Food Programme.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the meeting with the WFP Executive Board Mission expressed his keen interest in jointly working more closely with UN WFP, Jahanzeb Khan said.
Secretary P&D Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that it was an opportunity for both the Punjab government and the UN WFP to increase collaboration and cooperation for the upcoming WFP-GOP project 2016-18.
Addressing the Ceremony, Dr Shabana Haider, Member Health P&D said that there is a long history of good partnership between the government and the World Food Programme and the WFP has been providing support to address the issues of food security and malnutrition under its various ongoing programmes in the province. Under this MOU these activities will be progressively handed over to the Punjab government at all levels while capability enhancement within the relevant departments will also take place over the course of the project.
At the end, United Nation World Food Programme Country Director Lola Castro while speaking on the occasion said that through the three-year Protracted Relief and Rehabilitation Operation (PRRO 2016 – 2018), WFP will work together with the government of Punjab to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in achieving food security and nutrition goals and building resilience among the most vulnerable population through provision of technical support and capacity building initiatives.
The policy, advocacy and capacity enhancement initiatives would be based on strong partnerships with relevant authorities and institutions at the district and provincial levels for strategies and action that improve food security and reduce vulnerabilities; build capacities and strengthen preparedness for timely response to natural disasters. Castro also said that the food reserves have become critical areas for attention in ensuring food security due to persistent threat and repeated natural disasters. The food reserves are also useful in offsetting supply shocks or spikes in demand, and facilitating humanitarian response during emergencies.
She recommended the Punjab government to keep generously contributing to WFP operations. She also appreciated the ongoing support and coordination WFP enjoyed with the Punjab government.
