LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved a Rs6.87 billion school meal programme aimed at improving nutrition among more than one million students enrolled in government schools.
The programme will be launched from September 2026 and will cover around 7,294 schools across 13 districts of the province.
Under the initiative, students will receive milk three days a week, while milk and biscuits will be provided on another day. The programme is intended to address nutritional needs while encouraging children to attend school regularly.
The districts covered include Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Layyah, Lodhran, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Taunsa and Vehari.
The programme builds on an earlier pilot initiative introduced in selected districts. The Punjab government says school-based nutritional support can contribute to children’s health, learning and attendance. The official Punjab government describes the programme as an effort to combat malnutrition and improve children’s health and school participation.
The latest expansion represents a major investment in school nutrition and is expected to particularly benefit students in areas where access to nutritious food remains a challenge.
