School Meal Programme in Bhakkar launched: CM Maryam inaugurates Daanish School in Mankera

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the Daanish School in Mankera and launched the School Meal Programme at Government Primary School Kisanwala in Bhakkar, saying education and nutrition were essential for the progress of future generations.

During the visit, the chief minister announced the upgradation of three schools in Mankera. Immediate implementation was ordered and notifications were issued. Government Girls Primary School Kisanwala was upgraded from primary to elementary level, while the government elementary schools of Kari and Noorpur Shah were upgraded to high school level.

The chief minister distributed lunch boxes among students of Government Primary School Kisanwala and visited classrooms, where she interacted with the students. She expressed happiness on seeing desks manufactured from recycled milk packs and was informed during a briefing that such recycled furniture can be used for up to 40 years and remains unaffected by rain or temperatures as high as 100 degrees Celsius.Interacting with students, the chief minister encouraged them to drink milk, eat healthy food and become strong. Responding to her question, a student answered innocently, prompting smiles. Another student told the chief minister that she admired her dress and often saw her on television, but was seeing her in person for the first time.

Upon reaching Daanish School Mankera, the chief minister held the hands of two children wearing white turbans and accompanied them to the inauguration ceremony. She also visited the school’s computer lab and library, stressing the importance of reading books, saying that knowledge and respect grow through education.

The chief minister asked students various questions, took photographs with them individually, and later visited the hostel of the Daanish School girls’ campus, where she celebrated the birthdays of three students — Nirmal Tahreem, Shakeela Noor and Anusha Kanwal — belonging to Balochistan. She conveyed her good wishes to the students.

She also joined students for lunch and urged them to work hard and move forward, saying that through dedication and effort, students could achieve what might appear impossible. She said it gave her great happiness to see daughters progressing in every field and added that, as a mother, she would do everything possible for her daughters across Punjab.

Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed the chief minister on the School Meal Programme and Daanish Schools. He informed that more than 200,000 empty milk packs were being recycled to manufacture furniture, notebooks and pencils. Currently, 13,197 students are enrolled in 20 Daanish schools across the province.

The briefing further stated that the School Meal Programme is being implemented in 8,319 schools across 13 districts of Punjab, including 4,309 boys’ and 4,010 girls’ schools, where students are being provided nutritious lunches. Since the launch of the programme, student enrolment has increased by 28 per cent, with an addition of 24,740 students.

Under the programme, 33.7 million milk packs and 12.2 million packets of biscuits have been distributed in schools of Bahawalnagar, Kot Addu, Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Taunsa, Chiniot, Lodhran and Vehari.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026