Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2007
1. The method of Sukhatme (1970b), which takes into account the interrelationship between dietary protein and energy, has been applied to the dietary survey results collected during the nation-wide Nutrition Survey of West Pakistan. It was found that most of the protein deficiency that occurs in Pakistan is conditioned by energy deficiency. The incidence rises from 13 to 40% when cases conditioned by energy deficiency are taken into account. Protein deficiency as such exists in only 2% of families compared with 11% of families which are deficient in both protein and energy. These findings indicate the magnitude of the protein problem in Pakistan.
2. In view of these findings, it is obvious that, unless the energy need is met, increased protein production will not help much to improve the situation and may be a costly approach to the solution of the protein problem in Pakistan.