Marri calls for investing in nutrition

Minister says Benazir Nashonuma conditional cash transfer programme crucial to provision of health services

Poverty Alleviation Minister Shazia Marri has emphasised the need to invest more on nutrition of most vulnerable population of the country for sustainable development.

The minister, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that under the Benazir Nashonuma conditional cash transfer programme, the assistance is linked with health and nutrition which addresses stunting prevention.

She said that 487 facilitation centres were currently operational across the country to help the needy people.

The poverty minister said, “It is extremely important to focus on nutrition in order to ensure both mental and physical growth of our children”.

“Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is targeting to enroll 1.5 million children and Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLWs) by 2025,” Minister Shazia said.

She claimed that Rs24 billion have been disbursed so far, adding that Rs32 billion is the proposed amount in the upcoming budget.

Shazia Marri also said that she had apprised Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the progress on nutrition programme and had proposed to invest more into nutrition of the most vulnerable population.

The poverty alleviation minister said that the Pakistan Peoples Party had been constantly pushing the adaptive social protection agenda, emphasising the need to focus on the economic needs of the people.