BISP Chairperson, Sindh Health Minister inaugurate Nutrition Stabilization Center, Model EPI Center

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2026) Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, along with Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho and representatives of international health organizations, on Tuesday inaugurated the Nutrition Stabilization Center and Model Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Center established under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Senator Rubina Khalid said the Nutrition Stabilization Center was an important component of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme and had been established to provide specialized care and treatment for children suffering from moderate and severe acute malnutrition.

She said the programme had developed an effective referral mechanism linking Nashonuma Facilitation Centers with Nutrition Stabilization Centers to ensure timely identification, referral and treatment of malnourished children.

According to a news release, the BISP chairperson said the center reflected the collective commitment of the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Sindh, international development partners and provincial health authorities to combat child malnutrition and improve the health and well-being of vulnerable families.

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She said the initiative demonstrated how meaningful results could be achieved when government institutions, United Nations agencies and health systems worked together under a shared vision to address nutrition-related challenges.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho highlighted the growing challenge of child malnutrition in Pakistan and stressed the need for integrated and coordinated measures to improve child health outcomes.

She said a significant number of children continued to suffer from stunting and impaired cognitive development due to malnutrition, underscoring the importance of strengthening nutrition and healthcare services for vulnerable populations.

Referring to the achievements of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, Dr. Pechuho said programme data indicated that more than 90 percent of beneficiaries had completed immunization coverage, reflecting the effectiveness of integrated service delivery.

She added that the Model EPI Center would serve as a benchmark for comprehensive child healthcare and provide a replicable model for strengthening preventive health services across Sindh.