Real-Time Monitoring for Child Nutrition and Stunting Prevention
The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has taken a major step towards modern, data-driven governance by launching a real-time digital dashboard for its flagship stunting-prevention initiative, the Benazir Nashonuma Program. The dashboard was formally inaugurated by BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid, alongside Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmed Shah and World Food Program Country Director Coco Ushiyama.
The Benazir Nashonuma Program focuses on protecting children from stunting and malnutrition, especially during the critical first 1,000 days of life. This period—from pregnancy until a child’s second birthday—is widely recognised as the foundation for healthy physical growth, brain development and long-term wellbeing. By bringing real-time monitoring tools into this space, BISP is aiming to track interventions more closely and ensure that support actually reaches the mothers and children who need it most.
Key Features of the New Dashboard
According to BISP, the new digital dashboard is designed to provide an instant snapshot of how the Benazir Nashonuma Program is performing across Pakistan. It offers real-time insights for monitoring enrolment, service delivery and coverage, helping teams quickly spot gaps or delays.
The dashboard is expected to play four major roles:
• Providing real-time insights for monitoring program performance
• Strengthening accountability and policy response at federal and provincial levels
• Supporting data-driven decision-making in both health and social protection sectors
• Tracking nutrition interventions for children, particularly in the first 1,000 days of life
With these features, policymakers and programme managers can see where services are strong, where they are weak and where additional resources or reforms are needed. Instead of relying only on periodic reports, officials will have a live picture of progress and challenges on the ground.
Reaching Over Four Million Women and Children
Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted that the Benazir Nashonuma Program has already reached more than four million women and children. Through this platform, BISP is providing essential nutrition support during the early years of life, when the risk of stunting and long-term health problems is highest.
She stressed that the new dashboard is not just a technical upgrade, but a tool to promote better growth outcomes for children and to address nutritional deficiencies among girls in particular. Girls in low-income households are often at higher risk of under-nutrition and limited access to health services. By making their situation more visible through real-time data, the programme hopes to improve targeting and equity.
Rubina Khalid also acknowledged the technical support provided by international partners, including the World Food Program, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Their involvement has helped BISP align the Nashonuma Program with global best practices in child nutrition and social protection.
Ramadan Stipend Increase for 10 Million Families
Alongside the launch of the digital dashboard, BISP has announced an increase in stipend amounts across its flagship cash transfer programs for the month of Ramadan. The move is intended to give extra relief to low-income households facing high food and living costs during the holy month.
The quarterly Benazir Kafalat stipend has been raised from Rs. 13,500 to Rs. 14,500, an increase of Rs. 1,000. The enhanced payments will be disbursed during Ramadan and are expected to benefit around 10 million beneficiary families across Pakistan.
For many of these families, BISP stipends are a critical source of support, helping them purchase basic food items and meet essential expenses. The additional amount, though modest, signals the government’s recognition of rising inflation and the extra financial pressure that households face during Ramadan.
Taken together, the new digital dashboard and the Ramadan stipend increase show how BISP is trying to combine technology, nutrition and financial support under one broader social protection vision. The focus is not only on transferring cash, but also on ensuring that children grow healthier and that public money is monitored and used more effectively for long-term human development.
