ISLAMABAD, August 10, 2026: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) marked World Breastfeeding Week 2026 on Monday as officials said its Benazir Nashonuma Programme is reaching 1.4 million active beneficiaries through 578 facilitation centres across Pakistan.
The event, held at BISP headquarters in Islamabad, brought together government officials, health professionals and representatives of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to promote breastfeeding and strengthen maternal and child nutrition.
BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid said breastfeeding plays a critical role in child survival, maternal health and long-term development, urging mothers to exclusively breastfeed infants during the first six months of life.
She said supporting pregnant and breastfeeding women required more than financial assistance, stressing the importance of accurate information, counselling and access to quality health and nutrition services.
The chairperson said the Benazir Nashonuma Programme combines social protection with nutrition and healthcare support for pregnant and lactating women and their children.
Director General Conditional Cash Transfer Dr Asim Ijaz said BISP is currently reaching 1.4 million active beneficiaries through 578 facilitation centres across the country.
Beneficiaries receive nutrition counselling as well as referrals for antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC) and other health services, he said.
The programme is also promoting nutrition awareness through 169 Nutrition Stabilization Centres, according to BISP.
UNICEF Country Representative Pernille Ironside stressed the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, describing a mother’s first milk as an important source of early protection for newborns.
WHO Pakistan Deputy Country Representative Ellen Thom said the Nashonuma Programme demonstrated how social protection could be integrated with health and nutrition interventions to improve outcomes for women and children.
WFP Pakistan Deputy Country Director Thomas Conan described breastfeeding as one of the most cost-effective interventions for improving maternal and child nutrition and highlighted the importance of consistent awareness at community level.
The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Protecting Breastfeeding through Social Protection Initiatives,” involving representatives from BISP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, the Ministry of National Health Services and the Pakistan Paediatric Association.
BISP said it would continue working with government institutions and development partners to expand access to maternal and child nutrition support and strengthen health awareness among vulnerable families across Pakistan.
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