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In early 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) officially launched 40 new nutrition stabilization centres (NSCs) across Pakistan. This expansion is part of a strategic partnership to combat the country’s high rates of stunting and severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
As of February 27, 2026, these facilities are operational and integrated with the Benazir Nashonuma Programme.
Goals & Reach of the 2026 Initiative
The addition of these 40 centres has significantly bolstered Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure for vulnerable children.
- National Capacity: WHO now supports a total of 169 centres nationwide (up from 129).
- Impact: The 40 new centres alone are estimated to treat 15,000 children annually.
- Staffing: Over 700 healthcare professionals have been trained and deployed to manage these specialized facilities.
- Counselling: The program aims to provide nutritional and health guidance to 120,000 mothers and caregivers each year.
Services Provided at the New Centres
These centres specifically target children under five years of age suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications.
- Life-Saving Treatment: Inpatient care for critical cases that cannot be managed through standard out-patient programs.
- Therapeutic Feeding: Provision of specialized foods such as F-75, F-100, and RUTF (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food).
- Lactation Support: Establishment of dedicated lactation management rooms to promote and support breastfeeding.
- Success Rate: Current data shows a 97% cure rate for children treated at these WHO-BISP supported stabilization centres.
Integration with Benazir Nashonuma
The nutrition centres are a core component of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which focuses on the “first 1,000 days” of a child’s life.
| Feature | 2026 Update |
| Total Nashonuma Centres | Over 542 Facilitation Centres nationwide. |
| Conditional Cash Transfer | Beneficiaries receive up to Rs. 14,500 (including Ramzan bonuses) for complying with health visits. |
| Monitoring | A new Real-Time Dashboard was launched in Feb 2026 to track child growth and payment status. |
| Coverage | Priority is given to districts with the highest stunting rates (Sindh and merged districts of KP). |
How to Access Support
Families registered with BISP can access these nutrition services through the following steps:
- Screening: Visit a local Basic Health Unit (BHU) or Nashonuma Facilitation Centre for a child’s growth screening.
- Referral: If a child is diagnosed with severe malnutrition and complications, they are referred to the nearest Nutrition Stabilization Centre (NSC).
- Treatment: All medical care, medicines, and specialized food at these NSCs are provided free of cost.
Note: Stunting in Pakistan currently affects roughly 40% of children under five. This WHO-BISP collaboration is credited with a 20% decline in stunting among infants who participate in the program from the first trimester of pregnancy.