Free Meal Program for Students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Primary Schools
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a free meal program for students attending primary schools in the province. The pilot project will start in Abbottabad and Swat before expanding to other divisional headquarters. Approximately 70,000 students will benefit from this initiative, receiving daily meals at no cost.
The program is estimated to cost Rs 500 million annually, funded by the provincial government. A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Department of Social Welfare and charitable organizations to implement the scheme. To monitor the progress, a committee with officials from the Education and Social Welfare departments will be formed.
CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, emphasized that providing standard meals for free in government schools will increase enrollment. Additionally, the government recently announced the distribution of free solar panels to 100,000 needy households, further showcasing their commitment to welfare initiatives.