Sindh Launches Free School Meals in Malir to Boost Health & Learning for 11,000 Students
The Sindh government is starting a new plan to help children in school. They are working with the World Food Programme (WFP). Together, they will give free meals to students in Malir District.
This program will start in the 2025–2026 school year. It will run for one year. Every day, 11,000 children from nursery to class five will get hot meals at school. The government will spend Rs578.39 million on this project.
A Lifeline for Students and Families
The program wants to stop hunger in the classroom. Hunger makes it hard for students to learn. This plan will give healthy food to students every school day.
The meals will have lentils, rice or bread, vegetables, and fruits. The food is made to be good for health.
By giving food, the program hopes students can focus better, come to school more often, and do well in their studies.
Government and WFP Join Forces
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had a meeting with WFP Country Director Coco Ushiyama at the Chief Minister’s House. They agreed on a new plan.
The Sindh government will pay 80% of the cost (Rs462.71 million). WFP will pay the rest (Rs115.68 million).
This plan adds to other health programs like Nashonuma and Mamta. These programs help mothers and children stay healthy.
How the Program Works
A main kitchen will cook and send meals to some schools in the peri-urban areas of Malir. These schools were picked because they have clean water and toilets. The Sindh Food Authority will check that the food is clean and healthy. The World Food Programme (WFP) will run the program with help from another company. They will also check how many children come to school each day. Their goal is to have at least 70% of students present daily.
Broader Impact: Health, Jobs, and Gender Equality
The program will help in more ways than just education. It is expected to lower child malnutrition and give people jobs by buying food locally. Chief Minister Shah said it can also help girls go to school, because free meals make families more likely to send their daughters. Ms. Ushiyama said that the WFP is also working in Sindh to fight poor nutrition by giving food supplements and money to families.
What’s Coming Next
If the program works well, it could grow to other parts of Sindh. It would help more children stay healthy and learn better. Right now, students in Malir will get food. This can help them feel better and do well in school. One meal can make a big difference.