LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated a Danish School in Mankera, Bhakkar, and launched the School Meal Programme at Government Primary School Kisanwala, terming education and nutrition key pillars for a brighter future of children.
During a visit, the chief minister announced the upgradation of three schools in Mankera, following which notifications were issued in this regard. The Government Girls Primary School Kisanwala was upgraded to elementary level, while the elementary schools in Kari and Noorpur Shah were granted the high-school status.
The chief minister distributed lunch boxes among students at Government Primary School Kisanwala and visited classrooms.
She expressed satisfaction over desks made from recycled milk cartons, and was informed that such furniture could withstand rain and temperature of up to 100 degrees Celsius and remain usable for up to 40 years.
The chief minister encouraged students to drink milk, eat healthy food and grow strong. She stressed the importance of reading books, saying knowledge and respect increase through education.
At the Danish School girls’ campus hostel, the chief minister celebrated the birthdays of three students belonging to Balochistan.
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed the chief minister on the School Meal Programme and Danish Schools.
He said more than 200,000 empty milk packs were being recycled to manufacture furniture, notebooks and pencils. Currently, 13,197 students are enrolled in 20 Danish Schools across the province.
The School Meal Programme is being implemented in 8,319 schools in 13 districts, where students are provided nutritious lunch. 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.
News Published in Express Tribune on February 2nd, 2026.
