BISP to launch food program to reduce stunted growth

ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is launching a food program to deal with the issue of stunted growth of children, as per the goal of the new government and the World Health Organization.

Secretary BISP Mr Omar Hamid Khan said that BISP is the largest social safety net of the country and is set to launch several new initiatives to support the poverty stricken women of the country.

Pakistan had a stunted growth rate of 44 percent of total children and 9.6 million children experienced chronic nutrition deprivation in 2016.

The new government had also taken notice of the urgency of matter and committed to utilise all resources to reduce the rate of stunted growth in children.

Secretary BISP was informed that the set target for enrollment of children was achieved where 144,199 children have been enrolled under the Waseela-e-Taleem

programme from January to September 2018 in Punjab region.

The secretary appreciated the BISP team and hoped that the same performance will be continued ahead. He was on a official tour of regional office Punjab, where he reviewed the operational matters of the organisation and urged the officials to deal with the complaints of beneficiaries in a better manner.

He also met the women leaders of BISP’s Waseela-e-Taleem programme and assured them to resolve their issues. He said that BISP will soon launch a support fund for disabled children and unmarried girls of BISP beneficiaries.

He added that BISP will also launch small loans and skill development initiatives for BISP beneficiaries which will help alleviate out of poverty and lead towards their economic empowerment.