BY: ANI Correspondent :
KARACHI: A delegation of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), led by its Representative and Country Director in Pakistan Anita Hirsch, called on First Lady Asifa Bhutto Zardari in Karachi.
The meeting was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs Irfan Soomro.
The WFP delegation briefed the First Lady on its programmes covering nutrition, food security, school meals and climate resilience, including collaboration under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme. The programme has reached more than three million women and children nationwide, including over 1.7 million beneficiaries in Sindh.
The delegation also highlighted WFP’s $40 million School Meals Programme, which targets 100,000 children in 614 government schools in Malir and Keamari, along with initiatives addressing malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, WASH and climate resilience.
The First Lady stressed the importance of an integrated approach to maternal and child health, breastfeeding, immunisation, nutrition and early childhood development, while calling for greater attention to infant mortality, stunting and population growth.
Welcoming the School Meals Programme, she proposed greater emphasis on school-based agriculture and kitchen gardens to help children learn about nutrition, agriculture and healthy food through practical experience.
Discussing climate vulnerability, Asifa Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need to move beyond disaster response towards early warning systems, anticipatory action and community resilience. She highlighted Sindh’s initiative to construct around 2.1 million flood-resilient homes, with ownership provided to women beneficiaries.
The WFP delegation briefed her on anticipatory action, disaster-risk financing, early-warning systems, climate-resilient agriculture and livelihood protection measures in disaster-prone areas.
The First Lady reaffirmed her support for WFP’s efforts towards achieving Zero Hunger in Pakistan and assured the delegation of her support for advocacy and public-awareness initiatives on nutrition and food security.
