The administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has made the decision to launch a free lunch program in elementary public schools.
Children attending elementary schools in the province’s metropolitan districts would get free lunches from all of the divisional headquarters.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur presided over the meeting when the decision was made.
According to an official statement released from the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday, other attendees included provincial minister for primary and secondary education Faisal Khan Tarakai, chief minister Muzamil Aslam’s adviser on finance, additional chief secretary for planning and development Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, and chief executive officer of a private welfare organization, Allahwale Trust, Shahid Lone.
It was agreed to launch the program in Abbottabad and Swat as a test project first, and then expand it to other divisional headquarters.
The announcement stated that the initiative would give free, high-quality meals to almost 70,000 youngsters every day and that the province government would pay the projected Rs. 500 million yearly cost of the program.
In order to carry out the suggested plan, it was also determined that the social welfare department and the private welfare organization would sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Gandapur described the program as one of his government’s other major welfare initiatives. It would also aid in boosting enrollment in government schools, he continued.
Mr. Gandapur stated that previous prime minister Imran Khan’s goal included allocating all available resources to the welfare of people, and his administration will initiate more such initiatives.
He gave the relevant authorities instructions to complete the action plan as quickly as possible in order to carry out the program successfully.
