Pakistan faces a severe nutritional crisis characterized by rising obesity rates and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Between 1999 and 2016, the percentage of overweight Pakistanis surged from 18% to 29%, and, in 2018, over half (54.7%) of adolescent girls aged 15-19 were anaemic. This alarming trend is primarily attributed to insufficient iron intake due to low dietary diversity and poor food quality, which has serious implications for both their health and development. 

Adolescents, particularly girls, are at a crucial juncture in their lives where proper nutrition is essential for physical growth, cognitive development, and overall, well–being. Malnutrition not only increases the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, but also hampers educational attainment and future economic opportunities. For girls, the stakes are even higher; those who become pregnant while anaemic face significant maternal and neonatal health risks.  

Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond basic supplementation. The  launch of the Ministry of National Health Services’ Adolescent Nutrition and Supplementation Guidelines is a vital step, but their successful implementation through tailored, community-driven initiatives’ is key to improving adolescent nutrition in Pakistan.  

BISP’s educational stipend program, Taleemi Wazaif, will leverage Nutrition International’s expertise in adolescent nutrition and large-scale food fortification to implement a sustainable a, community-driven approach in Pakistan. Recognizing the urgent need to address immediate micronutrient deficiencies and building foundation for long-term nutritional resilience for fostering better health outcomes for young girls, we will focus on providing weekly iron and folic acid supplementation to adolescent girls and delivering quality nutrition education.  

Central to our approach is a peer-to-peer education model that cultivates leadership skills, promotes a supportive environment  and empowers adolescent girls to become community change agents. By equipping them with essential nutrition knowledge and skills they need, we will enable them  to share dietary information with their families and peers.    

This initiative will also improve access to fortified foods through local flour chakkis – traditional mills. By capacitating local chakkis in the vicinity of targeted public schools, and raising awareness about the benefits of fortified staples, the project aims to enhance dietary diversity and quality. The project will actively engage local stakeholders, including health, education, and food officials, to strengthen community involvement, ensuring a holistic and sustainable approach to accelerating adolescent nutrition and fostering long-term behavioural change to increase the consumption of fortified wheat flour.