Thursday, September 17

First Lady Asifa Bhutto Zardari Reaffirms Support for WFP’s Zero Hunger Efforts

 

First Lady Asifa Bhutto Zardari Reaffirms Support for WFP’s Zero Hunger Efforts KARACHI, September 17, 2026 (Ghufran): First Lady of Pakistan Asifa Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed her support for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)’s efforts to advance the goal of Zero Hunger in Pakistan during a meeting with a WFP delegation led by Representative and Country Director WFP Pakistan Anita Hirsch 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, particularly its collaboration under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which 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 aims to provide meals to 100,000 children in 614 government schools in Malir and Keamari, along with initiatives addressing acute malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, WASH and climate resilience. Asifa Bhutto Zardari underscored the importance of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme and an integrated approach to maternal and child health, breastfeeding, immunisation, nutrition, early childhood development and reducing infant mortality and stunting. She welcomed the School Meals Programme and expressed interest in centralised kitchen models, while proposing greater emphasis on school-based agriculture and kitchen gardens to provide children with practical learning about nutrition and healthy food. Referring to the devastating 2022 floods, she stressed the need for Pakistan to move from 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, and noted the development and social-sector initiatives of the Sindh government, particularly in Thar. The WFP delegation also briefed her on disaster-risk financing, climate-resilient agriculture, early-warning systems and measures to protect livelihoods and livestock from natural disasters. The First Lady reaffirmed her strong support for WFP’s efforts to achieve Zero Hunger in Pakistan and assured the delegation that she would lend her voice to advocacy and public-awareness initiatives on nutrition and food security. She also expressed continued support for WFP’s ShareTheMeal initiative and stressed the importance of sustained cooperation between the government, the United Nations and development partners to ensure that vulnerable women and children have access to adequate nutrition, healthcare and education.

KARACHI, 17 September, 2026 (Ghufran): First Lady of Pakistan Asifa Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed her support for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)’s efforts to advance the goal of Zero Hunger in Pakistan during a meeting with a WFP delegation led by Representative and Country Director WFP Pakistan Anita Hirsch 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, particularly its collaboration under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which 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 aims to provide meals to 100,000 children in 614 government schools in Malir and Keamari, along with initiatives addressing acute malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, WASH and climate resilience.

Asifa Bhutto Zardari underscored the importance of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme and an integrated approach to maternal and child health, breastfeeding, immunisation, nutrition, early childhood development and reducing infant mortality and stunting. She welcomed the School Meals Programme and expressed interest in centralised kitchen models, while proposing greater emphasis on school-based agriculture and kitchen gardens to provide children with practical learning about nutrition and healthy food. Referring to the devastating 2022 floods, she stressed the need for Pakistan to move from 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, and noted the development and social-sector initiatives of the Sindh government, particularly in Thar. The WFP delegation also briefed her on disaster-risk financing, climate-resilient agriculture, early-warning systems and measures to protect livelihoods and livestock from natural disasters. The First Lady reaffirmed her strong support for WFP’s efforts to achieve Zero Hunger in Pakistan and assured the delegation that she would lend her voice to advocacy and public-awareness initiatives on nutrition and food security. She also expressed continued support for WFP’s ShareTheMeal initiative and stressed the importance of sustained cooperation between the government, the United Nations and development partners to ensure that vulnerable women and children have access to adequate nutrition, healthcare and education.