The Sindh government has announced its intention to provide free lunch to public school students in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), Express News reported on Wednesday. The initiative aims to meet the challenges of malnutrition and food security facing the children of the province.
During a meeting between the Minister of Education of the Sindh, Syed Sardar Ali Shah and the Director of the Pam country, Koko Oshima, the importance of tackling malnutrition and problems related to food in schools was discussed.
Shah explained that due to financial constraints and population trends, many parents are unable to provide nutrient meals to their children, which negatively affects their learning process. He stressed that the program would focus on areas where poverty and food insecurity are widespread.
He also mentioned that the supply of regular meals in schools would not only improve attendance but would also reduce abandonment rates. This would also encourage families who often send their children to work to prioritize send them to school instead.
Oshima stressed the importance of the program, saying that balanced nutrition improves cognitive development and childhood memory, thus improving their learning capacities. She added that a good nutrition also stimulates immunity, helping children remain healthy and more resilient to diseases.
The Minister of Education stressed that the supply of high quality meals should be a main objective of the initiative. It was agreed that the first phase of the program would begin in the Karachi district, with a reference survey on schools and the surrounding areas carried out to assess the needs.
As part of the initiative, 11,000 children will receive “lunch boxes for hot meals” in schools. Based on the first year’s progress and results, the program will be extended to other cities, with effective monitoring of the meal distribution system.
The program aims to meet both the nutritional needs and the educational challenges faced by children, contributing to better learning results and healthier future.
