Pregnancy and a baby’s first two years are the most critical window for growth and development — yet many families in Pakistan are forced to cut back on food, hygiene, and basic baby essentials when money is tight.

National data shows how serious the need is: 40.2% of children under five are stunted, 17.7% are wasted, and 28.9% are underweight in Pakistan.
Micronutrient deficiency is also widespread: 53.7% of children aged 6–59 months are anaemic, and anaemia affects 42.6% of women of reproductive age overall (43.0% in non-pregnant women).

Feeding challenges are severe too — only 3.6% of children aged 6–23 months receive a “minimum acceptable diet”, and 48.4% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed (meaning many babies are already vulnerable to poor nutrition early on). UNICEF has also highlighted Pakistan’s very high burden of low birthweight, with a national average of 22.7%.