PAAS Nutrition Project
PAAS Foundation’s nutrition project began with a small pilot carried out in Serana Kals, a remote mountain village in Bagh, Azad Kashmir. In 2026, the project is set to expand in new directions. Overview of Pilot Project In 2025, PAAS ran a six month pilot community nutrition project in Serana Kals, Azad Kashmir and its environs. The objectives of the pilot project were to address malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency in local children while educating community women about the connection between nutrition and long term health.
Nutrition Project
PAAS Foundation conducted focus group discussions with women in Seerana Kals to better understand local dietary practices, perceptions of nutrition, and recent lifestyle changes. Four local women were trained to assess child growth and provide basic nutrition and health education within the community. Seventy children ages 0 to 8 were assessed for height, length, and weight, with results plotted on WHO growth charts.
Because the community was reluctant to allow laboratory testing, PAAS developed food frequency questionnaires to gather information from caregivers about children’s weekly diets and to identify potential nutritional gaps. Educational sessions on nutrition and breastfeeding were also conducted for community women.
The assessments showed that all children fell within the normal range for weight relative to height or length, indicating that food quantity was generally adequate, though food quality remained a concern. No cases of stunting or wasting were observed; however, the absence of laboratory testing meant that possible micronutrient deficiencies could not be confirmed. Discussions and dietary surveys revealed limited knowledge of nutrition, healthy cooking practices, and safe food handling, as well as a shift away from traditional food cultivation toward packaged, low-nutrient snacks.
Overall findings indicated that the community would benefit most from education-based rather than therapeutic interventions. In response, PAAS continues to conduct nutrition and health education sessions for women, particularly those of childbearing age.
In 2026, PAAS plans to introduce school kitchen gardens at PAAS school sites in Azad Kashmir to directly engage children and promote healthier eating habits. The nutrition program will also expand to the PAAS Hospital in Badin, with a focus on providing micronutrient support for children.
PAAS will continue community-based education on nutrition, health, food preparation, and kitchen gardening in Azad Kashmir and will launch the nutrition program at the House of Light School in Pind Begwal, a free school serving children from low-income families in Islamabad Capital Territory. Parents at the school will participate in sessions on nutrition, kitchen gardening, and healthy cooking practices.