Nutrition transition in Pakistan

Madam, South Asia today is at crossroads. More than half (55 percent including injuries) of the disease burden is now attributable to non-communicable or chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancers that is more than communicable diseases (infections), maternal and child health issues, and nutritional deficiencies combined. In Pakistan, cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and stroke) account for 34 percent of all deaths. Pakistan ranks sixth globally in the number of persons with type 2 diabetes, with diabetes prevalence being as high as 16.5 and 13.9 percent in urban and rural Sindh, respectively.