Benazir Nashonuma Program 2026 - Mother and Child Nutrition Stipend Guide
Benazir Nashonuma is Pakistan most important maternal and child nutrition program, providing monthly stipends to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under two years old from BISP-registered households. This guide covers eligibility, registration, payment amounts and how the program reduces child malnutrition.
What Is Benazir Nashonuma?
Nashonuma means growth and development in Urdu. The Benazir Nashonuma Program is a conditional cash transfer and nutritional support initiative under BISP targeting the first 1,000 days of a child life - from conception through the child second birthday. This period is scientifically proven to be the most critical window for physical and cognitive development, and malnutrition during this time causes irreversible long-term harm.
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of child stunting in the world. Stunting - where children are too short for their age due to chronic malnutrition - affects over 40 percent of children under 5 in some regions. The Nashonuma program directly targets this crisis by providing both financial support and nutrition services.
Nashonuma Program Eligibility
- The mother must be registered in BISP and eligible for Kafalat payments
- The pregnant woman must be in her first trimester (early pregnancy)
- The child must be under 24 months of age
- Registration must be done at a BISP-partnered health facility
- Regular attendance at health facility visits is required to receive payments
Nashonuma Program Benefits
Benazir Nashonuma benefits by stage
| Stage | Benefit | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| During pregnancy | Monthly cash stipend | Rs. 2,000/month | Regular antenatal visits |
| After delivery (mother) | Monthly cash stipend | Rs. 2,000/month | Breastfeeding support visits |
| Child 0-6 months | Nutritional supplements | Products provided | Monthly health facility visit |
| Child 6-24 months | Complementary food support | Products + cash | Monthly health facility visit |
| Vaccinations | Full immunization program | Free | Mandatory for payment |
How to Register for Benazir Nashonuma
Your household must already be eligible in the BISP system. Check by sending CNIC to 8171.
Contact your BISP Tehsil Office or call 0800-26477 to find the nearest Nashonuma-registered health facility (Basic Health Unit, Rural Health Centre or hospital).
Visit the facility as early as possible during pregnancy. Bring your CNIC, your BISP eligibility confirmation, and pregnancy documentation.
The health worker will record your weight, height, blood pressure and nutritional status. Growth monitoring begins for children.
Monthly visits are required. Each visit is recorded and triggers the monthly payment. Missing visits results in withheld payments.
At each visit you receive nutritional supplements, guidance on breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and your cash stipend.
Nashonuma Program Impact
Independent research by the Aga Khan University published in major international medical journals found that the Benazir Nashonuma program reduced child stunting by 6.4 percent overall, with stunting among 6-month-old children reduced by approximately 20 percent. These are significant results in a country where stunting was endemic for decades. The program now covers over 3.6 million women and children.
Nashonuma Participating Health Facilities
The program operates through government health facilities including Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Centres (RHCs), Mother and Child Health Centres, and some district hospitals. The network has expanded to over 1,900 facilities across Pakistan. Contact your nearest BISP Tehsil Office to find the registered Nashonuma facility closest to you.