The Punjab Food Authority (PFA), in collaboration with the Labour and Human Resources Department, has launched Phase II of the School Meal Program. The initiative aims to provide nutritious meals to 14,100 students across 36 schools in Punjab.
The program was inaugurated at Worker Welfare Primary School in Nishtar Town by Provincial Minister Khawaja Muhammad Mansha Ullah Butt and PFA Director General Asim Javaid. The minister said healthy children are essential for a bright future and called the initiative a timely intervention.
Under the School Meal Program, students in 30 government primary schools and six labor welfare schools will receive meals for three months. The menu includes meat, pulses, vegetables, and fruits. Health assessments will be conducted before and after the program to track students’ progress.
The program also seeks to raise awareness about balanced diets and healthy eating habits among children. Nutrition committees will be established in each participating school to monitor meal quality and ensure proper implementation.
Plans are underway to expand the School Meal Program to 73 additional labor welfare schools. Officials aim to provide long-term nutritional support while promoting healthy lifestyles among students.
PFA Director General Asim Javaid highlighted alarming findings from the National Nutritional Survey, which showed that 40 percent of children face stunting and 30 percent are under-height for their age. He stressed the urgent need for programs like this to combat malnutrition.
Javaid also urged parents, teachers, and communities to support the initiative. He said collective effort is crucial to ensure healthier futures for children across the province.
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The School Meal Program reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to improving child nutrition and fostering awareness about healthy eating. Officials hope the initiative will serve as a model for similar programs nationwide.
