Islamabad : Undergraduate curriculum reform led by Higher Education Commission (HEC) integrates nutrition, climate, and equity in BS Food Science & Human Nutrition programs with a food systems lens.
In a major step toward rethinking the food systems in Pakistan, for the first time, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), along with the academic institutions and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), has formally endorsed the introduction of Food Systems
Transformation–related courses as regular courses within the undergraduate degree programs of
Food Science & Technology and Human Nutrition & Dietetics.
This transformative step— represents a huge policy-academic alignment and has been undertaken
through a rigorous consultative process under the National Curriculum Review Committee
(NCRC). For the first time, undergraduate curricula will mainstream topics such as community
nutrition, sustainable consumption, climate resilience, gender and youth inclusion, and responsible
business conduct.
The two-day review meeting, hosted at Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF),
brought together 38 national experts from over 25 universities and institutions, under the
stewardship of HEC’s Curriculum Division. The revised curricula aim to equip future graduates
with interdisciplinary skills and systems thinking to tackle the multifaceted challenges of food
insecurity, malnutrition, climate vulnerability, and ethical food production.
In his remarks, Dr. Amjad Hussain, Director General (Academics & Curriculum), HEC,
stated“This reform is a strategic leap toward developing an education system that mirrors Pakistan’s
food and nutrition priorities. These courses are not add-ons; they are essential for preparing future
professionals to lead across public health, agriculture, policy, and food system innovation.”
This reform was also appreciated by Mr. Faiz Rasool, Head of Policy & Advocacy, GAIN Pakistan,
who attributed the success of the curriculum reform to HEC and the leadership of academia with
the following words: “We commend HEC for embedding food systems thinking into academic
reform. This is a forward-looking and inclusive step that will help build a new generation of
professionals ready to lead Pakistan toward a healthier and more resilient food future.”
While reminiscing over the achievements of the previous two days, during the closing session, there
was a sense of hope and optimism permeated with ideas by Prof. Dr. Rauf-i-Azam, Vice
Chancellor, GCUF, recognizing the shared responsibility of academia in national development:
“GCUF is proud to have hosted this milestone initiative. The integration of food systems
transformation into degree programs will not only elevate the quality of higher education but also
ensure our graduates are responsive to national challenges and global priorities. I urge all institutions
to implement these reforms with purpose and urgency.”
The new curricula further strengthen Pakistan’s declaration to global targets namely Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and will contribute toward national strategies on nutrition, food
security, climate adaptation, and youth empowerment. It also goes on to provide a framework for
deeper collaboration between government, academia, Industry and development partners to cocreate a more inclusive and resilient food future for all Pakistanis.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
