KARACHI: The Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP) — a key initiative for stunting prevention that targets pregnant and lactating women and infants — has demonstrated a 6.4 percentage-point reduction in stunting among children aged 6-23 months, along with significant improvements in maternal dietary diversity and a reduction in low birth weight.

This was revealed in a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Food Programme (WFP) Pakistan Country Director Coco Ushiyama at the CM House on Tuesday.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the BNP, a flagship conditional cash transfer initiative aimed at preventing stunting during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Education Minister Sardar Shah, Labour and Social Protection Minister Saeed Ghani, Secretary School Education Zahid Abbasi, Secretary Health Tahir Sangi, Secretary Social Protection Khandim Channa and Secretary to the CM Asif Jameel.

The WFP delegation included Hilde Bergsma, Head of the Provincial Office, Sindh, Salma Yaqub, Programme Policy Officer, Sindh, and Rustam Khan, Programme Policy Officer, WFP.

According to the midline evaluation conducted by AKU, the programme has demonstrated a 6.4 percentage-point reduction in stunting among children aged 6-23 months, along with significant improvements in maternal dietary diversity and a reduction in low birth weight.

The chief minister termed the results “highly encouraging” and said the reduction in stunting and low birth weight “proves that targeted nutrition interventions combined with social protection can deliver measurable human capital gains”.

He reiterated Sindh’s commitment to strengthening coordination between the health, education and planning departments to scale up evidence-based nutrition interventions.

Ms Ushiyama, on the occasion, appreciated the provincial government’s efforts and commitment in making the stunting reduction programme a success.

School meals drive in vulnerable Karachi districts

The WFP country director briefed CM Shah on the five-year, $40 million School Meals Programme. The initiative, titled “Kal Ki Bunyad (Foundation for the Future)”, will target 100,000 students in 614 government schools in Malir and Keamari districts of Karachi.

The programme aims to improve children’s nutritional status through daily school meals, strengthen literacy outcomes using the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, rehabilitate WASH facilities and institutionalise a sustainable provincial school meals model.

While appreciating WFP’s continued support to the province, the chief minister said: “Our objective is not just to feed children, but to nourish them with the most efficient and sustainable model possible.”

He said that the provincial education department was working rigorously to ensure students’ and teachers’ attendance in schools through digital solutions and by monitoring students’ learning processes.

The School Meals Programme, funded by the McGovern-Dole programme of the United States Department of Agriculture, provides an opportunity to work closely with key stakeholders to take the agenda further to other regions of the province.

The chief minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to institutionalising school feeding and maternal nutrition initiatives through sustainable provincial frameworks.

“Investing in nutrition is investing in Sindh’s future. Our focus is on building strong systems that the province can own and expand,” he said.

The WFP delegation appreciated the provincial government’s leadership and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Sindh to advance food security, child nutrition and resilience initiatives.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026