Karachi's The News (International) reported July 14 the proceedings of a thyroid awareness event sponsored by the Pakistan Endocrine Society. The story quoted Prof. Najm-ul-Islam declaring: "The use of iodised salt should be made obligatory for every citizen of the country; in a country like ours where the rate of people suffering from thyroid diseases is quite high, it is extremely vital that every household consumes only iodized salt."