The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) expressed support on Wednesday for the Sindh government‘s School Meal Programme (SMP), which aims to provide free breakfast, lunch, and milk to schoolchildren.
During a meeting at the CM House, WFP Country Director Coco Ushiyama met with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to discuss issues related to out-of-school children. The Chief Minister encouraged WFP to support pilot programs that could be expanded over time.
A press statement from the CM House revealed that the provincial government plans to launch the SMP in collaboration with the private sector, aiming to deliver nutritious and hygienic meals to students to boost enrollment, attendance, and learning outcomes.
The WFP official reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the SMP in Sindh. The Chief Minister noted that, with WFP’s help, the provincial government has been able to provide nutrition and healthcare services to pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children enrolled in the program.
So far, the program has enrolled over 830,000 individuals across 140 static and mobile facilitation centers in 30 districts.
The Chief Minister and WFP Director agreed to strengthen their partnership in disaster response, climate change adaptation, and addressing issues like acute malnutrition and stunting. They also discussed expanding food storage facilities under WFP’s five-year country strategic plan.
CM Shah stressed the need to increase wheat storage capacity in the province and highlighted WFP’s support, through the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in constructing strategic grain reserves.
Related: Sindh Extends School Summer Break by Two Weeks
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