ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to extend the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP) for another three years.The renewed agreement aims to strengthen nutrition-responsive social protection and expand access to essential nutrition and health services for vulnerable women and children across the country.Under the new phase of the programme, an additional 3.3 million women and children are expected to benefit from lifesaving nutrition and healthcare services.
The extension builds on the programme’s success in addressing malnutrition and improving maternal and child health.UNICEF described the agreement as a renewed commitment to ensuring that every family has access to the services needed to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. The organization noted that the Benazir Nashonuma Programme has evolved into one of the world’s leading examples of integrating social protection with nutrition interventions.While welcoming the progress achieved so far, UNICEF emphasized that malnutrition remains a major challenge affecting Pakistan’s human capital and long-term development.
The organization reaffirmed that investing in nutrition-responsive social protection is an investment in the country’s future, enabling every child to survive, grow and reach their full potential.
