ISLAMABAD: A school meals programme has been launched in 13 rural schools in the capital by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The pilot project was launched on Tuesday at the Islamabad Model School for Boys Jhang Syedan, in the Nilor area, by Education Secretary Arshad Mirza.

It aims to increase school attendance, improve dietary diversity and reduce hunger among schoolchildren.

Under the project, 3,500 students will be provided dried fruit as a mid-morning snack, and they will be taught how to improve their eating habits, health and hygiene.

“We are initiating this pilot project with the support of the World Food Programme, envisioning a large scale national school meals programme where every child has access to at least one nutritious meal per day,” Mr Mirza said.

Pakistan is home to 22.6 million children (12.1m girls and 10.5m boys) between the ages of five and 16 who do not currently attend school.

It also has the third largest population of student children at 44pc. Stunting can impair children’s mental and physical growth and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

“WFP’s vision is to eradicate hunger in our lifetime, a bold aim manifested in the Sustainable Development Goals.

“The provision of a daily school meal is a strong incentive to attract and keep children in schools, contributing to their overall health and wellbeing,” said WFP country representative Finbarr Curran.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2019