CM Maryam launches school nutrition project
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz sits with pupils in their classroom during a visit to a government primary school in Dera Ghazi Khan. Photo: Express
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday launched Punjab's first school nutrition programme, a pilot project aimed at addressing malnutrition among children in three districts of South Punjab, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh.
During a visit to a government primary school in Dera Ghazi Khan, the chief minister distributed milk packs among the students to launch the programme. Under the programme, more than 400,000 students of 3,527 schools will receive a 175 millilitre milk pack daily.
During her interaction with the schoolchildren, the chief minister asked them about the challenges they faced. On the occasion, a student complained about his father's unemployment. The chief minister immediately ordered the authorities to provide him employment.
Earlier, upon her arrival in the district, the chief minister was presented salute by the contingent of the Border Military Police at the commissioner's office. Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed her about the project.
The chief minister credited the vision of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for bringing inflation down to single digit after seven years. She acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the poor and promised continued efforts to ease their hardships.
She said the initiative had been launched in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh due to high malnutrition rates in the areas with many children suffering from stunted growth. She highlighted the importance of balanced diet for proper physical and cognitive development.
Housing scheme
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formally launched the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar [own roof, own house] Programme by initiating the balloting. According to a handout, 185 applicants were declared successful in the balloting for the programme in Dera Ghazi Khan.
The first installment of loans would be paid to the successful applicants by September 15. "We want to attain the target to allot houses to 100,000 persons every year. There is no element of favour in the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Programme and everyone will be provided loan on merit," the CM said.