KARACHI: In a decisive move to enhance social welfare and support for vulnerable populations, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved a range of initiatives aimed at expanding the province’s social safety net. During the 3rd Board meeting of the Sindh Social Protection Authority (SSPA), the provincial government outlined measures to improve maternal and child welfare and provide income support to rural women.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the meeting saw the approval of a new Early Childhood Development (ECD) program targeting 885,000 children, along with seasonal cash support for women agricultural workers. Significant upgrades to the Mamta maternal health cash transfer program were also ratified under the Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System in Sindh (SSPDSS).
The Mamta project, currently active in 22 districts with a budget of Rs 56 billion, serves over one million beneficiaries. To alleviate financial stress on impoverished households, a Hybrid Predictable Payment Model (PPM) was approved, ensuring mothers receive scheduled cash disbursements despite any delays in health visits.
Additionally, the board sanctioned full cash payments for pregnancies or the youngest child, and 75% of the cash transfer amount for older children under two years, ensuring comprehensive support for vulnerable children.
Two new interventions were greenlit to address long-term poverty and human development. The Rs14 billion ECD project, financed by KfW, will provide Rs3,000 quarterly to caregivers for growth monitoring, nutrition counseling, and school readiness for children aged 0 to 5 years.
A Women Agricultural Workers Program was also approved, offering monthly cash transfers to rural women during lean periods, aimed at mitigating seasonal income loss, reducing debt, and enhancing food security in farming households.
To further the reach of the Mamta program, a feasibility study in partnership with the Gates Foundation was approved for expansion into underserved urban areas of Karachi and Hyderabad. An addendum was ratified to include health facilities managed by the Health Department in newly selected districts, with DHQ and THQ hospitals serving as central Mamta desks.
For improved governance, the formation of specialized committees on audit, human resources, legal affairs, and research was authorized. A budget of Rs2.29 billion for the financial year 2026-27 was also approved.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized the commitment of the provincial government to building a more reliable support system for Sindh’s poorest families. He highlighted that this initiative is not merely a welfare obligation but also an investment in the province’s human capital, aiming to create a healthier, more resilient community.