Pakistan

Provincial SUN Steering Committees are Government-appointed and SUN Secretariats are at different stages of operationalisation. Provincial and regional SUN Focal Points were appointed in 2015-2016. The UN Network has developed a workplan and proposal for effective coordination. The Donor Network, UN Network and Civil Society alliance rally behind national nutrition policies. The SUN Civil Society Alliance is active also at the provincial level. The SUN Business Engagement Strategy has been endorsed and the Academia and Research Network has been created.

Last updated: December 2016

Pakistan has made significant progress in moving forward their nutrition agenda. Their multistakeholder platform is the high level National Nutrition Committee (NNC) in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms (M/o PD&R). A national Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat has been established with the support of the World Food Programme in M/o PD&R.

Decentralization of SUN will include the establishment of sub-national SUN units. These are planned in provincial Planning & Development Departments (P&DD) and will be established with the support of United Nations (UN) agencies and the Micronutrient Initiative (MI).

The UN network is proactive in planning and coordination. Each agency has harmonized their efforts under the SUN umbrella. The Donor Network, engaged with other sectors (non-health sectors and actors) to embed and strengthen nutrition sensitive interventions within all related sectors. Donors have leading advocacy efforts to improve coordination processes.

The Pakistan Scaling Up Nutrition Civil society Alliance (CSA) has approved their 2015 Work Plan and is enhancing their engagement at national and provincial level with stakeholders to promote accountability and carry out advocacy for nutrition.

The SUN Business Network is under establishment with commitments being made by the businesses involved. The National Fortification Alliance (NFA) brings together the fortification sector and actively engages with the NNC. They recently established an NFA Secretariat.

An Academia and Research Network was established in May 2015 and is expected to play envisaged strong role in the development of Pakistan’s SUN Movement strategy.

Last updated: October 2015

The Government has approved nutrition-specific and health-integrated nutrition projects in the provinces, along with ensuring nutrition inputs into Pakistan ‘Vision 2025’ and Five-Year Plan, through technical support by partners, particularly the UN. Pakistan’s Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy is being formulated. The National Fortification Strategy and Standards are being formulated. A nutrition budget analysis is planned by civil society organisations and building their capacities to ensure nutrition-sensitive policies and strategies is ongoing.

Last updated: December 2016

High level political commitment for nutrition can be seen with the recognition of nutrition in the Pakistan Vision 2025 and the pledge to establish a Centre of Excellence for Nutrition at Federal Level.

The 11th Five Year National Development Plan includes a nutrition component and allocations for nutrition are being made in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at federal level and Annual Development Plan’s (ADPs) at provincial level.

A National Nutrition Policy is under preparation and will be reviewed and finalized in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Pakistan went through a devolution process in 2011 and 2012 and various national ministries were devolved to the provincial level. In the post-devolution context, enactment of legal frameworks requires more time and resource although is conducted in a harmonized manner. The establishment of SUN Secretariat’s at provincial level and the current reformulation of M/o NHSR&C will help to drive progress and implement existing strategies.

At provincial level, the CSA is guided by provincial intersectoral nutrition strategies and Pakistan Vision 2025.

The NFA, under the chair of federal minister for NHSR&C, with strong representation from federal ministries including M/o PD&R, provincial departments and stakeholders is working with development partners including UN agencies, GAIN and MI to implement fortification programs.

Last updated: October 2015

The Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy is being formulated with all stakeholders. Funds are being allocated with nutrition present in public sector development programmes. Annual development plans are addressing nutrition, which is a step towards improving nutrition in the country. UN agencies have aligned their programmes with national nutrition-relevant policies, and a results framework is being developed for projects that are implementing under the Pakistan Partnership for Improved Nutrition Multi-Donor Trust Fund, which provides a good framework for intersectoral work at scale.

Last updated: December 2016

Common objectives for nutrition are focused on to reduce malnutrition through cost effective interventions. Government has allocated budgets dedicated to nutrition through the PSDP and ADPs, covering key sectors, including health, agriculture, education, water and sanitation and social protection.

The National Nutrition Action Plan (NNAP) will act as Pakistan’s Common Results Framework (CRF) and is under preparation in consultation with all provinces and partners.

The Ministry of National Food Security & Research (M/o NFS&R) is planning a National Zero Hunger Pilot Program with UN agencies and also working with Harvest Plus, Pakistan for bio-fortification especially bio-fortified variety of wheat. Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) through NFA is leading the coordination, policy formulation and development of regulatory framework for large scale food fortification in the country including wheat flour fortification and universal salt iodisation.

At provincial level, Integrated Nutrition Projects (PC-1’s) have been approved. Projects are financed jointly through Government’s and donors’ resources. These PC-1’s were approved in line with nutrition policy guidance notes and inter-sectoral strategies. Currently Sindh and Balochistan province PC-1’s are health sector specific and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab PC-1’s are health reform plans integrated with nutrition.

Last updated: October 2015

Pakistan has developed a financial tracking mechanism, with the help of the UN Network, to track nutrition-related budgetary allocations in public and private sector programmes and activities also at the sub-national level. However, similar to other countries, only public sector allocations are available online, and reported on. Off-budget allocations still remain a big challenge. Financial tracking for nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions is a challenge because they are usually tracked under health expenditures.

Last updated: December 2016

Pakistan participated in the SUN Movement Budget Analysis Exercise and shared their financial tracking mechanism for nutrition-specific and nutrition sensitive interventions. The mechanism tracks nutrition related allocations for programs at federal and provincial level in public sector budgets. The allocations are reported yearly and are made available online. Off budget allocation from external sources, including UN agencies, donors and civil society, for nutrition related programs, are proving difficult to track and report.

The next step is to track nutrition related expenditure to ensure accountability of funding of nutrition programs and ensure equitable distribution of resources.

Last updated: October 2015