The Sindh government has approved a major expansion of its social protection programmes, introducing new cash assistance schemes for children and rural women while upgrading maternal health support across the province.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the third board meeting of the Sindh Social Protection Authority in Karachi on Tuesday. Senior ministers, officials and board members attended the meeting, including Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and SSPA CEO Irshad Sodhar.
The board approved a new Early Childhood Development programme targeting 885,000 children aged up to five years. It also cleared seasonal cash transfers for women agricultural workers and introduced reforms to the Mamta maternal health support programme.
New welfare measures approved
The new Early Childhood Development initiative carries a budget of Rs14 billion and receives funding support from German development bank KfW. Under the programme, eligible caregivers will receive Rs3,000 every quarter for child growth monitoring, nutrition counselling and school readiness support.
Officials said the initiative aims to improve nutrition and long term human development outcomes among vulnerable families.
The board also approved a Women Agricultural Workers Programme. The scheme will provide monthly financial support to rural women during lean farming periods lasting between two and four months each year.
Authorities expect the programme to help women cope with seasonal income losses, reduce debt burdens and improve food security in rural households.
The board also reviewed the progress of the Mamta programme, which currently operates in 22 districts with a budget of Rs56 billion. More than one million women and children have registered under the initiative so far.
To improve payment reliability, the board approved a Hybrid Predictable Payment Model. Under the revised system, mothers will continue receiving scheduled payments even if a health visit faces slight delays.
In another measure, authorities approved full cash support for a mother’s pregnancy or youngest child. Families will also receive 75 percent of the conditional transfer amount for an older child under the age of two.
Focus on maternal health and poverty relief
The Sindh government also plans to expand the Mamta programme into underserved urban areas. The board approved a feasibility study with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to explore expansion into high risk union councils in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Officials also ratified an addendum allowing Health Department facilities in seven new districts to join the programme. District Headquarters and Tehsil Headquarters hospitals will serve as central Mamta desks.
To strengthen oversight, the board authorised specialised committees covering audit, legal affairs, research and human resources. It also approved a Rs2.29 billion budget for the 2026-27 financial year.
Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government wants to create a stable support system for Sindh’s poorest communities.
“Our goal is to create a predictable and reliable safety net that empowers the most vulnerable women and children of Sindh,” he said.
“By integrating health, nutrition and financial stability, we are investing in the future of our province.”
The chief minister described social protection as both a welfare duty and an investment in human capital.
“Protecting mothers, supporting young children and assisting rural women during difficult seasons means strengthening families and building a healthier, more resilient Sindh,” he added.
The latest measures come as Pakistan continues to face inflation pressures, climate related economic shocks and growing concerns over food insecurity in vulnerable regions.
