The Sindh government has announced plans to deliver free lunch to students in government schools in collaboration with World Food Program (WFP), Express News reported Wednesday. The initiative aims to tackle malnutrition and food security challenges that children in the province face.

During a meeting between Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah and WFP Director Koko Oshima, the importance of tackling malnutrition and food-related questions in schools was discussed.

Shah explained that many parents, due to financial limitations and population trends, are unable to deliver nutritious meals to their children, which negatively affects their learning process. He emphasized that the program would focus on areas where poverty and food security are widespread.

He also mentioned that delivery of regular meals in schools would not only improve participation but also reduce the dropout rate. It will also encourage families who often send their children to work to prioritize sending them to school instead.

Oshima highlighted the importance of the program and said that balanced nutrition improves children’s cognitive development and memory and thus improves their learning skills. She added that proper nutrition also increases immunity and helps children stay healthier and more resistant to diseases.

The Minister of Education emphasized that the delivery of high quality meals should be a primary focus on the initiative. It was agreed that the first phase of the program would begin in Karachi’s Malir District with a baseline study of schools and the surrounding areas implemented to assess the needs.

As part of the initiative, 11,000 children will receive “hot meal lunch boxes” in schools. Based on progress and results in the first year, the program will be expanded to other cities with effective monitoring of the meal distribution system.

The program aims to meet both the nutritional needs and educational challenges that children face, which contributes to better learning results and healthier futures.