The Punjab School Education Department is set to launch a major school meal programme from September. The Rs6.87 billion initiative will benefit more than one million students across the province.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formally approved the programme. It will be implemented in 7,294 schools across 13 districts during the current fiscal year.
Under the initiative, around 1.028 million students will receive milk three days a week. On one additional day, students will receive both milk and biscuits.
The programme is aimed at providing better nutritional support to schoolchildren. It is expected to help students from areas where families may face difficulties meeting their children’s nutritional needs.
The school meal programme will cover several districts across southern and central Punjab. The selected areas include Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Layyah and Lodhran.
The programme will also cover Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Taunsa and Vehari. Students enrolled in government schools across these districts will benefit from the initiative.
The Punjab government has continued to focus on school nutrition as part of its education-related initiatives. Providing milk and biscuits during school days is intended to support children’s health while encouraging regular attendance.
The programme was initially introduced on a smaller scale. It was first launched in three districts during the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Following the initial implementation, the government expanded the programme to 13 districts during the 2024-25 fiscal year. The latest approval will continue the initiative across the same 13 districts during the current financial year.
The expansion reflects the government’s focus on improving support for students beyond classroom education. Nutritional programmes can play an important role in supporting children’s development and their ability to participate in school activities.
Under the current plan, milk will remain the main component of the programme. Students will receive milk three days each week, while an additional day will include milk and biscuits.
The programme is expected to reach more than one million children. With 7,294 schools included, the initiative will cover a significant number of public sector educational institutions.
The Rs6.87 billion allocation will support the implementation of the programme during the current fiscal year. Authorities will be responsible for ensuring that the food items reach participating schools according to the programme schedule.
The initiative could also provide additional support to students in economically disadvantaged districts. Regular access to nutritional items at school can help address some dietary challenges faced by children.
The government’s decision to continue the programme in the same 13 districts also builds on its previous experience. Officials can use the earlier implementation to improve distribution and monitoring arrangements.
Schools included in the programme will be expected to facilitate the distribution of milk and biscuits to eligible students. The programme is scheduled to begin in September.
The school meal initiative is part of Punjab’s broader efforts to improve educational outcomes and student welfare. Authorities hope that better nutrition will support students’ participation and learning during the school day.
With more than one million students expected to benefit, the programme represents a major investment in school-based nutritional support. Its implementation across thousands of schools will require effective coordination between education authorities and participating institutions.
The Punjab government will now move towards implementing the approved programme from September. Students in the 13 selected districts are expected to start receiving milk and biscuits under the initiative once distribution begins.
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