Muhammad Faisal Kaleem

Pakistan has spent over Rs150 billion on maternal and child health care programmes. According to documents exclusively obtained by WealthPK, the government launched the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP) in 2020, and since then, Rs104.2 billion has been invested in this public health initiative. Specialized Nutritional Food (SNF), which also falls under the BNP, has been financed with over Rs47 billion.

The purpose of this scheme was to improve maternal and child health by addressing malnutrition and stunted growth among children under two years of age and expectant/lactating mothers across the country. These projects aimed to improve the overall nutritional status of women and children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Apart from special monetary assistance to enrolled women, the government — through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) under the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety — provided specialized nutritional food to mothers and children. Under the BNP, expectant mothers and boys under age two are entitled to a quarterly cash stipend of Rs3,000 each, while girls in the same age group receive Rs3,500 quarterly cash assistance.

When the scheme was launched, the government allocated Rs2.09 billion in FY2020-21 for 179,000 beneficiaries, which has now increased to Rs42.14 billion. As per the documents, program funding rose to Rs20.66 billion in FY2022–23, up from Rs4.87 billion in 2021–22. Similarly, the government disbursed Rs34.67 billion in 2023-24. WealthPK has learned that the World Food Programme (WFP) was the executing agency for this public welfare scheme.

The WFP managed procurement and logistics through its internal global procurement system. In 2020, the government began investing USD 6.64 million separately on SNF, which has increased to Rs47.74 billion in the current fiscal year. The year-wise breakdown includes USD 5.3 million in 2022, USD 39.57 million in 2023, and USD 72.72 million in 2024.

The BISP states that it envisions eradicating poverty and elevating the status of marginalized and underprivileged groups, especially women, through the establishment of a comprehensive Social Protection Net. The department is committed to fighting poverty by using multiple social protection instruments designed to bring sustainable, positive change to the lives of persistently excluded and deprived families.

A couple of days ago, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari launched the Benazir Hunarmand Programme.  Speaking on the occasion, the president emphasized the importance of education and skill development, stating that every household should be equipped with the tools for learning and education.

He recalled that the BISP was based on the philosophy of Zulfikar Bhutto Shaheed, whose legacy was carried forward by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who believed in inclusive prosperity and education for all. Skills development becomes crucial not only for national progress but also for preparing a skilled workforce to meet growing demand in international markets.

Credit: INP-WealthPk