The Government of Sindh, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, has launched a major initiative to improve child nutrition and education. The Sindh School Meals Program will provide daily cooked meals and take-home rations to more than 200,000 students across nearly 1,300 primary schools in the province, using US-provided food commodities.
Funded with USD 80 million from the USDA, the program will be carried out by Save the Children and the World Food Programme (WFP), working closely with Sindh’s Planning and Development Department, School Education and Literacy Department, and provincial Food and Health departments. Officials expect the initiative to boost enrollment, increase attendance, and strengthen foundational learning among students.
This program marks one of the largest regional investments in school nutrition to date. It aims to tackle nutritional deficiencies worsened by recent floods and economic challenges, ensuring children can stay in school and perform better academically.
Beyond providing meals, the Sindh School Meals Program focuses on long-term impact and local ownership. Thousands of teachers, head teachers, School Management Committee members, and district officials will receive training in food safety, nutrition education, and program monitoring. The initiative also includes the rehabilitation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in selected schools, giving students a clean and safe space for meals.
Charles Goodman, US Consul General in Karachi, highlighted the partnership’s impact, saying, “The United States is proud that our farmers can support the children of Pakistan by providing quality wheat, pulses, and cooking oil for school meals. This program will feed over 250,000 school children in the next six years. The McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program represents a true partnership for shared prosperity.”
