Balochistan WPC Meeting with WFP on Food Security

Women Parliamentary Caucus and World Food Programme Hold High-Level Dialogue on Food Security, Nutrition, and the Wellbeing of Women and Children in Balochistan
Quetta: The Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan convened a high-level strategic dialogue and consultative meeting with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Pakistan. The meeting focused on food security, prevention of child malnutrition and stunting, and the health and wellbeing of women and children in Balochistan.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Ghazala Gola, Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan and Chairperson of the WPC. Participants included Member of the National Assembly Ms. Akhtar Bibi; Ms. Pullen Baloch; Members of the Provincial Assembly Ms. Shahida Rauf and Ms. Salma Kakar; Secretary of the Provincial Assembly Mr. Tahir Shah Kakar; WFP Pakistan Representative and Country Director Ms. Anita Hirsch; Head of WFP’s Provincial Office in Balochistan Dr. Faaria Ahsan; UN Women representative Mr. Muhammad Dawood Nangyal; and other relevant officials.
Welcoming Ms. Anita Hirsch on her first official visit to Quetta as WFP Pakistan’s Representative and Country Director, Ms. Ghazala Gola appreciated the timely dialogue on food security, nutrition, and the wellbeing of women and children. She reaffirmed the Provincial Assembly and WPC’s commitment to supporting coordinated action on these critical priorities.
Participants discussed food insecurity, maternal and child nutrition, childhood malnutrition, and stunting across Balochistan. The meeting also considered the role of parliament and WFP in strengthening existing government programmes and social-protection initiatives to deliver more effective results for vulnerable communities.
WFP briefed participants on its ongoing programmes in Balochistan, including the School Meals Programme currently being implemented on a pilot basis in Quetta. Plans are under consideration to expand the programme to seven additional districts. The programme is jointly financed, with 50 per cent funding from the Government of Balochistan and 50 per cent from WFP.
Data presented during the meeting highlighted the positive results of the School Meals Programme. Between March 2024 and July 2026, girls’ enrolment in participating government schools in Quetta increased from 10,907 to 14,635—an increase of 34 per cent. The average attendance rate also improved and was recorded at 81.4 per cent.
During the question-and-answer session, parliamentarians discussed how the Provincial Assembly could support the programme’s effectiveness, sustainability, and expansion so that more children across Balochistan could benefit. WFP representatives emphasized the importance of raising the programme’s visibility and strengthening awareness among the public, institutions, and other stakeholders.
Parliamentarians stressed that all legislators should be consulted when expanding such programmes to ensure that the needs of different districts and constituencies are adequately reflected. They linked women’s and children’s nutrition with education, human development, and the province’s overall progress, and reaffirmed their commitment to parliamentary support and oversight.
Ms. Anita Hirsch underscored the importance of women’s and children’s health and nutrition, stating that “women’s health is the health of the nation.” She reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to continued cooperation with the Government of Balochistan and the Provincial Assembly in addressing food insecurity and improving nutrition outcomes.
The participants agreed to strengthen coordination and develop a shared approach among the Provincial Assembly, Government of Balochistan, and WFP to advance food security, prevent childhood malnutrition, improve women’s health, and increase children’s enrolment and attendance in schools.
Concluding the meeting, Ms. Anita Hirsch thanked the participating parliamentarians and the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan for their engagement.