The Punjab government has approved a Rs6.87 billion school meal programme aimed at providing nutritious food to more than one million students across the province.
The programme will officially begin in September and will cover 7,294 government schools in 13 districts during the current fiscal year.
Under the initiative, students will receive milk on three days each week. On another day, they will receive milk along with biscuits.
The programme is being introduced through the Punjab School Education Department as part of efforts to improve student nutrition and support children’s well-being.
Over 1 Million Students to Receive Milk and Biscuits
According to the approved plan, approximately 1,028,000 students will benefit from the school meal programme.
Students will receive milk for three days of the school week. On one additional day, the distribution will include both milk and biscuits.
The initiative is intended to provide children with regular nutritional support during their school day.
The Punjab government has formally approved the programme, allowing the School Education Department to begin implementation across the selected schools from September.
The programme will operate throughout the current fiscal year in the 13 designated districts.
Programme Expands to 13 Punjab Districts
The school meal initiative will be implemented in districts where nutritional support for schoolchildren has been identified as an important priority.
The 13 selected districts are:
- Bahawalnagar
- Bhakkar
- Chiniot
- Dera Ghazi Khan
- Kot Addu
- Layyah
- Lodhran
- Mianwali
- Muzaffargarh
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Rajanpur
- Taunsa
- Vehari
The government plans to continue providing milk and biscuits to eligible students throughout the programme period.
The expansion will significantly increase the number of schools and children covered by the initiative compared with its initial phase.
Programme Previously Started in Three Districts
The school meal programme is not entirely new for Punjab.
The initiative was initially launched in three districts in 2024 as an effort to introduce nutritional support for children attending government schools.
The programme was subsequently planned for expansion to 13 districts during the 2024–2025 period.
The latest approval now provides the basis for its wider implementation across the selected districts during the current fiscal year.
The government hopes that regular access to milk and supplementary food will provide nutritional benefits to participating students.
The programme also reflects a broader focus on improving conditions for children studying in government schools, particularly in districts where families may face greater economic challenges.
Focus on Children’s Nutrition
School meal programmes are often designed to address both nutrition and education-related challenges.
Children who do not receive adequate nutrition may struggle with concentration and classroom participation. Providing food during school hours can therefore support students’ ability to remain engaged with their studies.
Under Punjab’s programme, milk will form the main component of the weekly distribution.
Students will receive milk on three days, while milk and biscuits will be provided on another day.
The government has allocated Rs6.87 billion for the initiative, making it a significant provincial expenditure on schoolchildren’s nutritional support.
The programme is scheduled to begin across the selected schools in September.
With more than one million students expected to benefit, the initiative will be one of Punjab’s major school-based nutrition programmes.
