ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests has agreed to launch a project worth Rs 350 billion for the next five years to control malnutrition and stunted growth among children in the country.
The decision to this effect was taken at CCI meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair. Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also attended the meeting.
The CCI unanimously agreed to launch a development project “Tackling Malnutrition Induced Stunting in Pakistan” with a total cost of approximately Rs. 350 billion for five years (FY 2020-25).
It was agreed that 50 percent of cost to the tune of around Rs 175 will be provided by the federal government and equal distribution will be made by provincial governments for five years. The project will target 30 percent of the total population with 15 million women of reproductive age group and 3.9 million children under the age of 2 years through nutrition interventions.
It was agreed that the federal government will provide for nutrition supplementary commodities, capacity building healthcare workers, research and monitoring.
The provinces will contribute towards implementation through involvement of existing Lady Health Workers, community health workers, target population identification, program management, institutional arrangement, evaluation and data sharing.
Keeping in view the importance of developing a consensus on energy issues of the country, it was decided that next meeting of the Council will be called in first month of next year to finalize issues related to the cost of electricity, gas and fuel, and resolve water-related issues.
The prime minister emphasised that energy issues carry a national impact and it is necessary that a consensus is developed among the provinces where a win-win result is achieved for the benefit of the people of Pakistan.
