LAHORE – The government initiated the Benazir Nashonuma Program in various districts of the country to tackle the ongoing child nutrition crisis
Statistics shows that the higher levels of malnutrition rank Pakistan the second-highest burden country in the region. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are a window of opportunity to lay a strong foundation for later achievements. This timeframe is a period of enormous change characterized by a high degree of plasticity in the child’s neurological development. Investments in the early years of life are the foundation of human capital, and human capital is a key driver of economic development in the modern economy.
To address the stunting prevention during the first 1000 days window of opportunity, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has designed a Conditional Cash Transfer intervention to increase the uptake of Health and Nutrition services of its beneficiaries.
The primary objective of the program is to prevent stunting in children under two years of age and improve weight gain of pregnant women during pregnancy.
Who are Eligible for Benazir Nashonuma Program?
Pregnant Women
Women who are breastfeeding their newborns
Child under the age of two years
Benazir Nashonuma Program Registration
The government has established offices at Tehsil and District Headquarters Hospitals in various cities. Applicant can get themselves registered with the programme by visiting these offices along with their NADRA ID card, Child’s B-Form and vaccination card.
Up to Rs3,000 Cash Assistance for Mothers
The registered pregnant women will get Rs2,500 per quarter during the pregnancy. If they deliver a baby boy, they will continue to get the same quarterly amount until the child reach the age of two years.
The women will get Rs3,000 per quarter if they give birth to a girl. They will be able to receive the amount every quarter until the girl reaches the age of two years.