The Government of Pakistan, through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), has announced a three-year extension of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP 3.0) in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health Organization (WHO). The extension aims to prevent malnutrition among an additional 3.3 million children and women across Pakistan, according to an official statement.
Programme Coverage and Integration
Integrated into BISP’s national social protection system, BNP 3.0 will continue providing nutrition and health support to vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under two years of age. The programme operates through 578 facilitation centres and 224 nutrition stabilisation centres nationwide. Since its launch in 2020, BNP has reached 4.7 million people. With the extension, total coverage is expected to increase to 8 million beneficiaries.
Government and Partner Commitment
BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted the programme as a model of combining social protection, healthcare, nutrition, and partnerships to improve the lives of mothers and children. She emphasized that BNP 3.0 represents a renewed national commitment to ensuring healthier futures for children and families across Pakistan. The partnership with WFP, UNICEF, and WHO underscores a coordinated effort to tackle malnutrition.
Impact on Nutrition Outcomes
The programme provides conditional cash transfers, nutrition supplements, and health awareness sessions to beneficiaries. Nutrition stabilisation centres offer treatment for severe acute malnutrition. The extension targets districts with the highest malnutrition rates, particularly in rural and underserved areas. According to the statement, the initiative aligns with Pakistan’s national nutrition strategy and Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger and malnutrition.
