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Institute of Nutrition and Health

To develop an Institute of tropical diseases for research and training, to function as National Collection Type Culture (NCTC) and to develop a National Virus Reference Center

Institute

Functions of the Institute of Nutrition and Health.

  1. The Institute of Nutrition and Health shall perform such functions as are directed and assigned by the Federal Government or the Board, including,-
    1. Recommend policy, technical advice and research for nutrition sciences;
    2. Prepare education materials for the nutrition domain and conduct capacity- building activities for nutrition and dietary experts and students of various nutrition programs in national universities;
    3. Engage with universities and their students for various projects and research activities undertaken in the domain of nutrition;
    4. approving and commissioning research on nutrition and ongoing enhancements of role in the context of developments in the Nutrition Sciences; and
    5. Extend technical support to the federal and provincial nutrition cells and Federal and Provincial Governments for nutrition intervention planning and implementation.
  2. The Institute shall ensure that its advice, policies, material, research and reports are available to the general public on the website of the NIH.
Division

Nutrition Division

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Introduction / Background

Nutrition Division is one of the five Divisions of National Institutes of Health (NIH), Islamabad under MoNHSR&C.

It is working as WHO Focal Point for Food Safety, Federal Public Analyst Lab for Food Quality and Reference Lab for Fortified Wheat Analysis.

It was merged with National Health Labs (Now NIH) in 1971.

Initially it was working as Directorate of Nutrition Survey and Research –Karachi.

Objectives

To help government in reducing malnutrition and burden of foodborne illnesses through provision of lab based, applied research and nutrition education services to strengthen the provision of safe and pure/quality food.

Nutrition Division
Mission

To curb the menace of food adulteration by ensuring safety and quality of food by providing our quality services to Public, Private and other variety of clients like DHO/Food Department ICT, CDA Islamabad, DFC/DI AJK, PIA, CSD, POF Wah, OGDCL, Utility Store Corporation, Customs, Manufacturers, NGOs & Domestic Clients etc.

Sections of the Division

The Division is comprised of the following Sections/Laboratories. At present 34 staff members are working in Nutrition Division including 17 technical personnel.

  1. Admin Section, Nutrition Division
  2. Reception, Nutrition Division
  3. Federal Public Analyst Lab
  4. Food Analytical Lab
    • Facility for Analysis of Quality Parameters
    • Facility for Macronutrients (Proximate Analysis)
    • Facility for Micronutrients / Minerals Detection etc
    • Facility for Salt / Iodized Salt Analysis
    • Facility for Chemical Contaminants (Residual Pesticides//Mycotoxin (Aflatoxin)/Heavy Metals etc.)
    • Research & Development
  5. Water Chemical Lab
  6. Food / Water Microbiology Lab
  7. Nutrition Education Department

Functions / Facilities of the Division

Nutrition Division – NIH is working on the basis of authoritative functions provided through NIH Ordinance No. XL III of 1980

  • To conduct research on applied nutrition like clinical nutrition and food analysis and undertake nutrition education.
  • To advise federal government in developing food standards / pure food laws in collaboration with international agencies like WHO / FAO and others.
  1. Client Facilitation or Help Desk at Reception through provision of a Nutritionist / Consultant to address all technicalities of Clients regarding sampling, testing facilities and counseling on reports.
  2. Federal Public Analyst Laboratory to facilitate Food Inspectors/DFCs/DHOs etc.
  3. Food / Water chemical analysis to assess food quality.
  4. Proximate analysis to assess compositional ingredients.
  5. Provision of Salt/Iodized salt analysis.
  6. Food / Water chemical contaminants analysis (Detection of Heavy metals, Residual pesticides and Aflatoxin) to assess food safety.
  7. Microbiological Analysis to assess food /water safety.
  8. Development of standards with respect to food quality and food safety in collaboration with international agencies like WHO / FAO etc.
  9. Nutrition Education.
  10. Provision of R & D Lab to develop new facilities/standards and update existing facilities.
  11. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
  12. Development of Nutritional Literatures.
  13. Research on Applied Nutrition / Clinical Nutrition.
  14. Technical Support to Academia.
  15. Advocacy to Federal Government on nutrition related issues.

Achievements

Documents Developed

  • Diet Manual for Hospitals in Pakistan- Nutritional Care in Health and Disease
  • Islamabad Capital Territory Pure Food Act
  • National Food Based Dietary Guidelines (NFBDG)
  • National Food Safety Policy
  • National Food Safety plan and Strategies for implementation:
  • Revision of Pure Food Rules, 1965
  • Document on Food Safety Management System through application of ISO 22000:2005 Standard for small and Medium Enterprises
  • Formulation of therapeutic Diet Manual

Development of Food Standards

  • A revised draft is submitted in 2006 to update the Pakistan Pure Food Rules 1965 under the JPRM project for implementation at ICT level

Product Development

  • Iodine Test Kit
  • Iron Test Kit
  • Chlorine Test Kit

Instructions for Clients

Parameters Samples/Mode
Water samples for Chemical Analysis 01 Liter from running tap in clean & washed bottle from same water source
Water samples for Microbiological Analysis 100 ml from running tap in sterilized/autoclaved/disposable container
Food/Water samples for Chemical/Contaminants Analysis 250 gm (250 ml) in a closed clean container
Food/Water Packed/Sealed/Branded samples for Chemical/Microbiological Analysis Each packing separate for each sort of analysis as per above mentioned quantity with a mandatory letterhead request
Milk sample for Chemical/Adulterants Analysis 250 ml un boiled sample in a clean container
Timings: Monday - Friday
Sampling Reporting Break
07:30 Hrs – 3:30 Hrs 07:30 Hrs – 3:00 Hrs 01:00 Hrs – 02:00 Hrs
Contact: Email:
+9251 9255116, +9251 55079. chiefnutritiondivision@nih.org.pk
Division

Drugs Control And Traditional Medicines Division

The Drugs Control and Research Division enjoys the unique status as being a Federal Drug Laboratory under Section 14 of the Drugs Act, 1976, thereby functioning as the sole appellate laboratory for testing drugs/medicines in Pakistan. The Drugs Control and Research Division traces its roots to 1968, when it was originally set up as Drug Research Institute. Now, the division was renamed as Drugs Control and Traditional Medicines Division. In 1979 the President of Pakistan declared this division as the “Center of Excellence” in view of its great contribution in the drug quality control set up in the country. It is engaged in testing of drugs including the Narcotic and Psychotropic drugs as well as research on indigenous system of medicines. The Division is playing an important role in the drugs delivery system in the country.