Karachi: A delegation of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), led by Ms. Anita Hirsch, Representative and Country Director, WFP Pakistan, called on the Honourable First Lady of Pakistan, H.E. Asifa Bhutto Zardari, in Karachi today. The meeting underscored the collaborative efforts towards advancing food security and nutrition initiatives in Pakistan.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, the meeting was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, and Mr. Irfan Soomro, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The First Lady received a briefing on WFP's initiatives, including nutrition and food security programs and the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP), which has reached over three million women and children nationwide.

The discussion highlighted WFP's US$40 million School Meals Programme targeting children in government schools and interventions addressing malnutrition and climate resilience. The First Lady emphasized the significance of the BNP and UN agencies' mandates, focusing on maternal and child health, nutrition, and reducing stunting.

She expressed interest in WFP's School Meals Programme and proposed integrating school-based agriculture to enhance children's understanding of nutrition and agriculture. Reflecting on the 2022 floods, the First Lady emphasized the shift from disaster response to anticipatory action and resilience, highlighting Sindh's flood-resilient housing program.

The WFP delegation briefed on anticipatory action, climate-resilient agriculture, and women-led livelihoods in flood-affected areas. The First Lady assured her continued support for WFP's initiatives and cooperation between the Government, the United Nations, and development partners to improve nutrition, healthcare, and education for vulnerable populations.