When Nutrition is Prioritized, Children’s Health Improves – by the Millions!

Child stunting has declined in Pakistan after five years of targeted nutrition support, improving early-life health for millions of children and mothers nationwide.

“The programme has delivered measurable improvements in child growth and maternal health,” said Syed Imran Ahmad Shah, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety.

Around 3.9 million people have been enrolled in the Nashonuma Programme, including two million children and 1.8 million pregnant women, with operations now spanning 157 districts through 542 centres. Evaluations show stunting among children under two fell by 6.4%, with a 20% reduction among infants aged six months, alongside a 5.6% drop in low birth weight and an 11.6% rise in early breastfeeding. Linked digital payments are also expanding, with over 10 million wallets created to improve access and efficiency in social support delivery.