GILGIT, Feb 15: The government has decided to launch a project known as “Tawana Pakistan School Nutrition Package” for girl students in the Northern Areas.

The scheme would stay in operation for four years and a half after being launched.

This was stated by the Northern Areas adviser for education and finance Saifur Rahman Khan while talking to reporters here on Saturday.

Mr Khan said the project was part of the government’s plan to provide regular meals to 53,000 girl students in 5,300 government-run primary schools in 29 remotest districts of the country.

He said the scheme was being launched with the assistance of the ministry of women development, social welfare and special education.

Two remote districts of Ghizer and Gangche in the Northern Areas would benefit from this project. Around 11,336 girl students in Ghizer and 8,115 girl students would get meals for free.

He said the government has also enlisted some co-education schools in view of the low literacy rate in the area.

The students would also be given free treatment and medicine during the school hours and the project would be run in collaboration with the school administrations, social workers and public representatives, he said.