Operating under Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) – the country’s flagship social protection programme – the Benazir Nashonuma Programme has become a cornerstone in the fight against malnutrition in Pakistan.
The final results of the cohort study of the Independent Impact Evaluation presented in May 2026 show some of the strongest results ever documented globally for a nutrition programme, with impact on stunting reduction and child survival. The evaluation is conducted by the Institute for Global Health & Development at Aga Khan University and funded by the Gates Foundation. It followed two groups from early pregnancy – Nashonuma participants and non-participants – both enrolled in BISP Kafaalat.
The evaluation has documented significant impact on maternal outcomes, including full coverage of antenatal care (at least once), improved pregnancy weight gain (+24 g/week), and 0.36 g/dL smaller decline in hemoglobin concentration among Nashonuma participants. It also showed lower adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight reduced by 6%, preterm births by 11%, and small vulnerable newborns by 7%. For child health outcomes, stunting at 6 months was 22% lower among Nashonuma beneficiaries (equivalent to 9.4 percentage-points), especially reflecting improved maternal nutrition, and at 12 months, it was 18% lower (equivalent to 10.1 percentage-points). The evaluation also found reduced child anemia by 12%, increased full immunization coverage by 17%, while <25% of women achieved adequate dietary diversity.
Launched in 2020, the Benazir Nashonuma Programme targets pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 2, focusing on the pivotal first 1,000 days. Through its integration with BISP, Nashonuma can reach the most vulnerable mothers and children. The programme is delivered through 578 facilitation and 169 stabilization centers and has reached 4.6 million women and children so far.
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