The Sindh government has approved a major expansion of its social welfare programmes, introducing financial support for young children and rural women under the Sindh Social Protection Program.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the third meeting of the Sindh Social Protection Authority (SSPA), where several new initiatives were approved to improve maternal health, child welfare and financial stability for vulnerable families.

Under the new Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme, around 885000 children aged from birth to five years will receive financial assistance. Eligible caregivers will get Rs 3000 every quarter for child growth monitoring, nutrition counselling and school readiness support. The Rs14 billion project is funded by KfW and mainly targets rural communities.

The board also approved a Women Agricultural Workers Programme aimed at supporting rural women during low-income farming seasons. The initiative will provide monthly cash transfers for two to four months each year to help women manage seasonal income loss and improve food security.

Meanwhile, the Mamta maternal health programme, currently operating in 22 districts with a Rs56 billion budget, will continue expanding. The government also approved a predictable payment system to ensure mothers receive timely cash support even if health visits are delayed.

Murad Ali Shah said the government was committed to creating a reliable social safety net for poor families across Sindh.