The Punjab School Education Department is set to launch a School Meal Programme in various districts of the province at an estimated cost of Rs6.87 billion. Under the programme, around 10.028 million students will receive milk three days a week, while biscuits will be provided on one day each week.
Punjab Chief Minister has formally approved the launch of the programme in 7,294 schools, with implementation scheduled to begin in September 2026. The initiative aims to improve students’ nutritional intake and support their health and well-being, particularly among children enrolled in government schools across the province.
The program will be implemented in 13 districts of Punjab during the current financial year: Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Layyah, Lodhran, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Taunsa, and Vehari.
The program was initially launched in only three districts during the 2023–24 financial year. It was expanded to 13 districts in 2024–25, and the provision of milk and biscuits will continue in the same 13 districts of Punjab this year as well. Yaseen Baloch, Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority Rawalpindi, said that the School Meal Program for children in Rawalpindi district will be launched in the next financial year.
Under the programme, approximately 1.028 million students will receive milk three days a week, while milk and biscuits will be provided on the fourth day. The initiative is designed to improve the nutritional intake of schoolchildren, particularly in districts where poverty and malnutrition can contribute to poor school attendance, reduced learning outcomes and other challenges affecting children’s overall well-being.
The initial phase will cover 7,294 public schools across 13 districts, including Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Layyah, Lodhran, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Taunsa and Vehari.
The programme is part of the Punjab government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen nutritional support for children enrolled in public-sector schools. The school meal initiative was first launched on a limited scale in three districts during the 2023-24 financial year before being expanded to 13 districts.
The same 13 districts have been included in the latest phase, with the distribution of milk and biscuits set to continue during the new financial year as the government seeks to improve children’s nutrition and support their participation in education.