The under-five mortality rate stands at 89 deaths per 1,000 live births in Pakistan and an estimated 460,000 under five die each year in the country, one of the biggest rates in South Asia. Around 30% of children in Pakistan are chronically malnourished and 2.1 million babies are born in Pakistan with severe intellectual impairment caused by iodine deficiency. According to a report launched by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), the recent figures of the World Health Organisation (WHO) are higher, indicating 33.3% of children under 5 as being underweight. It is estimated that 35% of the diseases that burden children under 5 years are linked to malnutrition. Talking to APP, Child Rights Coordinator Shaista Kiran said the first two years of a child’s life are particularly important as optimal nutrition during this period will lead to reduced morbidity and mortality, reduced risk of chronic diseases and an overall better development.
