The Sindh government, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), will launch a one-year pilot School Meals Project in Malir District for the 2025–2026 academic year, allocating a total budget of Rs578.39 million.
This initiative will serve daily hot meals to around 11,000 primary school children (up to class five), aiming to improve their nutrition, boost attendance, and enhance learning outcomes.
In a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and WFP Country Director Coco Ushiyama discussed the new school feeding program, as well as ongoing efforts in maternal and child health.
They also explored plans to expand existing nutrition programs like Nashonuma and Mamta to more effectively combat malnutrition.
Under the cost-sharing plan, the Sindh government will provide the lion’s share, Rs462.71 million, or roughly 80% of the funding, while the WFP will cover the remaining Rs115.68 million.
The program is designed to fight hunger in classrooms, help students focus better, and support learning.
Meals will be prepared in a centralized kitchen and then delivered to schools. The weekly menu will include items such as rice or bread, lentils, vegetables, and fruit.
To ensure food quality, the Sindh Food Authority and a dedicated Food Safety Officer will monitor hygiene and nutrition standards. WFP will oversee implementation through a third-party contractor and will lead efforts in monitoring and evaluation.
The authorities will roll out the project in peri-urban parts of Malir where schools meet basic infrastructure needs, such as clean water, sanitation, and a minimum number of enrolled students.
A strong monitoring system will track enrolment, attendance, and retention, aiming to keep daily attendance at or above 70%.
WFP will carry out baseline and endline studies to measure impact, using data from the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and school records to conduct performance reviews.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized the broader benefits of the program, saying it can help reduce child malnutrition, create jobs through local food sourcing, and support community-based food systems. He also noted its role in advancing gender equality by helping more girls stay in school.
Ms. Ushiyama shared updates on WFP’s other work in Sindh, especially in areas related to maternal and child nutrition.
She spoke about key priorities like reducing stunting and wasting, using conditional cash transfers, and distributing food supplements to fight malnutrition.
CM Shah expressed his appreciation for WFP’s ongoing support and reaffirmed the Sindh government’s dedication to improving public health and education through long-term, nutrition-driven strategies.