The Sindh government has announced plans to provide free lunch to students in government schools in collaboration with the World Food Program (PMA), Express News reported Wednesday. The initiative aims to address the challenges of malnutrition and food safety faced by children in the province.
During a meeting between the Minister of Education of Sindh, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, and WFP Country Director Koko Oshima, the importance of addressing the problems related to malnutrition and food in schools was discussed.
Shah explained that due to the financial limitations and trends of the population, many parents cannot provide nutritional meals for their children, which negatively affects their learning process. He stressed that the program would focus on areas where poverty and food insecurity prevail.
In addition, he mentioned that providing regular meals in schools would not only improve assistance, but also reduce abandonment rates. It would also encourage families to send their children to work to prioritize them to school.
Oshima stressed the importance of the program, saying that balanced nutrition improves cognitive development and children’s memory, thus improving their learning skills. He added that adequate nutrition also increases immunity, helping children stay healthier and resistant to disease.
The Minister of Education emphasized that providing high quality meals should be a main focus of the initiative. It was agreed that the first phase of the program would begin in the Malir de Karachi district, with a reference survey of surrounding schools and areas carried out to evaluate the needs.
As part of the initiative, 11,000 children will receive “hot food lunch” in schools. According to the progress and the results of the first year, the program will be extended to other cities, with an effective monitoring of the meal distribution system.
The program aims to address both nutritional needs and educational challenges that children face, contributing to better healthy learning and future results.
