DERA GHAZI KHAN: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched the first school nutrition programme in the province at the Government Primary School MC-1 here on Thursday.

During her address on the occasion, she said she first thought of launching the programme to deal with the malnutrition issue of schoolchildren when she visited a school and a teacher told her that some children would come to school without having breakfast and they would faint in school.

“That day I decided that we would launch a programme in schools where the children up to class V would get a free milk packet daily, having all the nutrition.”

Maryam said it was a costly programme but there was nothing more important than the children.

“A survey indicated that children’s weight is not in accordance with their age in these areas (Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh). it is not a favour to the children; it is their right,” she added and all provinces in Pakistan faced issues of nutritional deficiencies and stunted growth; therefore, all provinces should start a school nutrition programme.

Schoolchildren in three south Punjab dists to get a milk packet daily

During her visit, the chief minister interacted with the students, distributed milk packs and talked to them about their education and health.

She personally gave milk packs to the students, opened them and supervised the students as they drank milk. She asked the children about any challenges they faced, and upon learning about a student’s father’s unemployment, she directed the authorities concerned to ensure a job for him.

The Chief Minister School Nutrition Programme is a pilot project aimed at addressing malnutrition in three districts of south Punjab – Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh. Over 400,000 malnourished students in 3,527 schools will receive daily milk packs. The empty packs will be collected and proceeds from recycling will be used for benefit of the respective schools.

During her address, Maryam Nawaz lauded Provincial Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat for bringing the rate of one packet of milk from Rs85 or Rs90 to Rs63.

Provincial Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed the CM on the project. Senior officials, including Marriyum Aurangzeb, Zahid Bukhari and others, were present at the event.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2024

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...