Food security in Balochistan Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad August 18, 2023, WFP Pakistan strengthened its partnership with the Government of Balochistan to roll out programs in line with its 2023-2027 five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP). The agreement was signed by WFP Pakistan’s Country Director and Representative Chris Kaye, and Hafiz Abdul Basit, Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning and Development Department, Government of Balochistan, during a ceremony held in Quetta. As part of the agreement, WFP will work with the provincial Government of Balochistan to translate plans into actions aligned with Government priorities. Further, WFP will harness its expertise to provide technical assistance to relevant departments while actively mobilizing resources as required. According to Chris Kaye, WFP Pakistan has adopted a clear direction under its new CSP. "We are already engaging with relevant ministries and provincial departments across the country systematically, leveraging our extensive academic knowledge and profound field experience in specific areas such as nutrition. This approach has led to the implementation of the largest stunting prevention program across the entire country, in collaboration with the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, federal Benazir Income Support Programme directorate, and provincial health departments," he explained. “WFP is a very strategic partner of the Government of Balochistan and has contributed significantly to contributions to this province. Without WFP’s support we might be in trouble reaching out to vulnerable and needy communities at such a large scale,” Hafiz Abdul Basit said. This agreement comes after the Economic Affairs Division approved WFP’s CSP for the next five years, a significant milestone towards addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable development in Pakistan. In line with the approved CSP, WFP is signing agreements with all provincial governments to officially launch the interventions outlined in the plan for the next five years. This collaboration is a pivotal component of WFP's broader strategy to address challenges about food insecurity in Pakistan.