Financial strain halts school milk initiative

Revised plan will be piloted in two districts starting in mid-September

RAWALPINDI:

In a significant setback, the Education Department has failed to deliver on its promise to provide milk packets to primary school students in government schools across Rawalpindi Division, despite the new academic session starting after the summer holidays.

The distribution, scheduled to begin on 15 August with the reopening of schools, has not commenced due to financial constraints, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Sources within the Education Department revealed that Punjab's severe financial crisis, exacerbated by the allocation of Rs45 billion towards electricity concessions, has led to the postponement of the milk distribution programme.

Originally planned to start in all primary schools across Punjab, the programme has now been scaled back. The revised plan will be piloted in two remote districts of South Punjab, beginning in mid-September.

Expansion of this milk distribution programme to other districts is dependent on the success of this pilot and the availability of sufficient funds. Until at least 31 August, there will be no milk distribution in schools across the province.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Abdul Rauf Kayani, President of the Rawalpindi District Primary Schools Teachers' Association, expressed his disappointment.