The Balochistan School Meal Programme has been launched with an investment of Rs1.58 billion, marking a major step towards combating child malnutrition and improving educational outcomes in the province. The initiative will provide nutritious meals to primary school students in Quetta, helping enhance their health, classroom performance, and school attendance. Officials say the programme is part of a broader strategy to strengthen child nutrition, maternal health, and sanitation services across Balochistan.
The initiative, introduced as a pilot project, aims to provide nutritious meals to young students, helping improve their health, concentration in classrooms, and school attendance rates.
According to official documents, the project carries a total cost of Rs1.579 billion, with Rs315.9 million allocated for the current financial year. The programme is part of a broader provincial strategy focused on child nutrition, maternal health, sanitation, and preventive healthcare.
Balochistan continues to face significant nutrition challenges, particularly among children and mothers. Health experts have long warned that malnutrition affects children’s physical growth, learning abilities, and future economic opportunities.
Alongside the school meal initiative, the provincial government is implementing a Comprehensive Maternal and Child Health Programme worth Rs2 billion, with Rs228.8 million allocated this year.
A separate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project is also underway in schools across the province, carrying a total cost of Rs2 billion and a current allocation of Rs200 million. The project aims to improve access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene services for students.
Meanwhile, a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) facility has been established at Eastern Bypass Quetta at a cost of Rs400 million, with Rs200 million allocated during the current fiscal year.
Officials say these initiatives are designed to improve nutrition levels, reduce preventable illnesses, and create healthier learning environments for children across Balochistan.
The school meal programme is expected to become a model for future expansion across other districts if successful, offering a lifeline to thousands of children from low-income families and supporting the province’s long-term human development goals.
