Qurat-ul-Ain Haider
IN a country where nearly 40% of children under five face stunting, the Benazir Nashonuma Programme has emerged as a story of hope and measurable change.
Operating under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan’s largest social protection initiative, it represents a defining step in the fight against malnutrition — a model where science meets compassion and policy drives human progress. A mid-term evaluation by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Global Health and Development confirmed a national breakthrough: a 6.4% reduction in child stunting, a 5.6% decrease in low birth weight and a 7–8% decline in babies born too small or too weak in target areas. Most remarkable is the 20% reduction in stunting among six-month-old infants whose mothers joined during early pregnancy and remained through breastfeeding. Behind these numbers lie real lives and families whose futures have quietly transformed.
Launched in 2020, Nashonuma is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: investing in mothers is investing in the nation’s future. The programme focuses on the first 1,000 days — from conception to a child’s second birthday — the most critical period for lifelong growth. Through 542 facilitation centres in 156 districts, it has reached over 3.5 million women and children, providing antenatal and postnatal care, growth monitoring, immunization and awareness sessions on nutrition and hygiene. Mothers also receive locally produced nutritious food supplements and conditional cash stipends to sustain healthy practices at home. At a Nashonuma centre in rural Sindh or Balochistan, transformation is visible. Mothers arrive with confidence and ownership. Health workers track growth digitally, while counselors guide families on breastfeeding and hygiene. The environment feels less like a clinic and more like a circle of community care. International partners have played a vital role. The World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have provided technical, operational and advocacy support, turning the government’s vision into measurable outcomes.
“WHO is thankful to BISP and its partners for this collaboration to protect and save lives,” said Dr. Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan. “The results are excellent but even one child lost to malnutrition is too many. Each child has a story and a family with dreams and we must leave no one behind.” UNICEF’s Representative, Pernille Ironside, described the programme as “a partnership rooted in human rights, development and resilience.” She noted that by empowering mothers and adolescent girls with knowledge and better nutrition, “we are breaking the cycle of malnutrition and helping families build brighter futures.” For Coco Ushiyama, Country Director of WFP Pakistan, Nashonuma represents “a model of government leadership and partnership in action.” She added, “A 20% reduction in stunting among infants at six months of age is unprecedented — for Pakistan and globally. When social protection and nutrition come together, the results are transformative. Investing in nutrition is one of the smartest investments any country can make.” Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta of Aga Khan University described the findings as “among the strongest globally,” stressing that early nutrition “pays off for generations” and offers a high return on investment in human capital.
Beyond data lies a human story — one of steady transformation across Pakistan’s most remote corners. In a fishing village in Ormara, Balochistan, Rozina, a mother of four, arrived weak and malnourished at a Nashonuma centre. After months of counseling and nutritious supplements, her health improved and her daughter Misra was born healthy. “When I see my children now, I see a future filled with hope,” she said. In the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Raham Bibi learned that the first 1,000 days shape a child’s future. Her youngest, Habiba, now thrives. “They taught me that my care matters,” she said. “That changed everything.” These stories reflect the essence of Benazir Nashonuma — restoring dignity through empathy and delivering measurable progress through science. As Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson BISP, stated, “The findings prove that social protection linked with nutrition interventions brings meaningful results for women and children. Pakistan’s success with Nashonuma shows that large-scale solutions to malnutrition are both possible and effective. A healthy mother is the foundation of a healthy nation.”
Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and grounded in rigorous research, Nashonuma is now recognized internationally as a pioneering model of integrating conditional cash transfers with nutrition and health interventions. In a world grappling with food insecurity, climate stress and inequality, Pakistan’s approach demonstrates that well-designed national programmes can deliver both scale and substance. The story continues. A final evaluation in 2026 will measure long-term outcomes, but the visible progress is already reshaping lives. For millions of mothers and children, Nashonuma has become more than a programme — it is a movement nurturing care, confidence and hope across Pakistan. As one mother in Sindh said, “This programme didn’t just feed my child. It taught me how to care for my family.” Her words capture a transformation beyond statistics — a movement of mothers raising a healthier and more resilient Pakistan.
—The writer is Director, Media Coordination and Outreach, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP, Islamabad.
