The Government of Sindh has collaborated with the World Food Programme (WFP) to launch a Rs578.39 million pilot project for school meals in the Malir District, aimed at providing daily meals to 11,000 primary school students. The goal of this initiative is to combat malnutrition in children and improve school retention.
Building on existing initiatives like Benazir Nashonuma and Sindh’s Mamta Programme, both of which focused on better nutrition for pregnant women and children, this project demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the lives of Pakistani citizens.
Hygiene and nutrition standards for the meals provided will be overseen by the Sindh Food Authority as well as a dedicated Food Safety Officer, while WFP will oversee implementation through a third-party contractor. If successful, this initiative could set a powerful precedent for future proposals concerning the health and wellbeing of children. It could also ultimately play a role in better literacy rates for the country.
Prioritising children’s health and education is a vital pillar for building a strong and successful nation. This recent initiative is therefore highly commendable and will hopefully prove beneficial for all.
Muhammad Bakhtiyar
Turbat
