A child who does not get enough to eat during her first thousand days will earn less throughout her life. Stunted growth leads to impaired cognitive development, which ultimately translates into lower lifetime earnings.

Pakistan has roughly 40 percent of its children living this reality today. Yet walk into any ministry briefing on nutrition or primary healthcare and the language is oddly upbeat: officials speak of a “health dividend” — the idea that money spent on health today will generate economic growth tomorrow.

It is a sound concept, grounded in........

© Pakistan Observer