By Farooq Awan

The Government of Balochistan is implementing a Rs1.58 billion school meal programme for primary school students in Quetta as part of its efforts to address nutrition challenges and improve child health outcomes. According to the official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, Balochistan has focused its development investments on maternal and child health, school nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, and deworming as priority intervention areas.

The School Meal Programme for Students of Primary Schools in Quetta is being implemented on a pilot basis with a total project cost of Rs1.579 billion and an allocation of Rs315.9 million during the year. The programme is one of several nutrition-focused initiatives currently under implementation in the province. Balochistan is also implementing the Comprehensive Maternal and Child Health Programme with a total cost of Rs2 billion and an allocation of Rs228.8 million.

A separate project for the provision of WASH facilities in schools is under implementationto provide WASH facilities in schools is under implementation, with a total cost of Rs2 billion and an allocation of Rs200 million. According to the report, a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) facility has been established at Eastern Bypass Quetta with a total project cost of Rs400 million and an allocation of Rs200 million.

These projects form part of Balochistan's broader nutrition-specific interventions aimed at improving health and nutrition outcomes across the province. The provincial government has identified nutrition, maternal and child health, school-based interventions and sanitation infrastructure as key development priorities.

Credit: INP-WealthPk