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Islamabad: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) convened the inaugural session of the National Steering Committee for the SOPRAN project at its headquarters in Islamabad, launching an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing nutrition and empowerment among adolescent girls across Pakistan.
According to Press Information Department, the meeting was led by Mr. Naveed Akbar, Director General of BISP, who outlined the significant challenges of malnutrition prevalent among more than 50% of adolescent girls in the country. The SOPRAN project seeks to address these issues through a comprehensive strategy that integrates nutritional support into broader social protection frameworks.
Key stakeholders, including representatives from GIZ, Nutrition International, CERP, and provincial Departments of Education, Health, and Food Authorities, participated in discussions on leveraging cross-sectoral collaborations to deliver iron-folic acid supplements and fortified foods. The project will operate in seven districts: Faisalabad, Swat, Shaheed Benazirabad, Quetta, Kotli, Skardu, and Islamabad, focusing on community-driven behavior change and education to empower girls as agents of change within their families.
The meeting emphasized the importance of sustainable integration of food supplements into local food systems and highlighted various capacity-building initiatives for local actors in health, education, and nutrition. The project’s approach aims to enhance family health outcomes and foster a generational shift in dietary practices and health awareness.
In closing, Mr. Akbar called for strong provincial and district-level coordination and the nomination of focal persons to ensure effective implementation and communication across all phases of the project. The initiative marks a critical step towards improving nutritional standards and empowering young women in Pakistan.
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