Initiative to provide milk to thousands
Tackling malnutrition and improving education go hand in hand. That’s why Fauji Foods, with the support of Tetra Pak, is launching the Sustainable School Nutrition Program – an initiative designed to provide essential nutrients to schoolchildren in Pakistan. Officially introduced on 24 February 2025, the programme aims to improve child health, support academic success, and strengthen food security by delivering nutrient-rich UHT milk in aseptic packaging to thousands of students across the country. Since UHT milk in aseptic packaging does not require refrigeration and has a long shelf life, it is much simpler to transport and store compared to standard milk in other types of packaging.
Cooperating to fight malnutrition in Pakistan’s schools
Malnutrition among children in Pakistan remains a critical public health challenge, with persistently high rates of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. Despite some recent improvements, the situation is exacerbated by socio-economic disparities, inadequate infant and young child feeding practices, and the aftermath of natural disasters.
The 2018 National Nutrition Survey (NNS), conducted by the Government of Pakistan with support from UNICEF and the UK's Department for International Development, highlighted that approximately 40% of children under five were stunted, 20% were wasted, and 11.4% were underweight, indicating both chronic and acute malnutrition. It also revealed a high prevalence of anaemia, which affects over half of adolescent girls.
Milk is a simple yet powerful solution to childhood malnutrition, offering essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins B2 and B12, along with proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates necessary for balanced growth.
The goals of the Sustainable School Nutrition Program are ambitious yet achievable. It aims to reach forty-two thousand students across one 118 schools in 102 towns. Each month, Fauji Foods will supply 159,000 litres of milk to support growing bodies and minds. Regular health assessments, including height, weight, and serum levels, will be conducted to track impact, while key health metrics such as calcium, protein, and vitamins A and D will also be evaluated. By ensuring access to nutrient-rich milk, the initiative is actively working to combat nutritional deficiencies and support healthier childhoods across Pakistan.
Nourishing young minds and bodies
This cooperation is more than just a corporate initiative, it’s a commitment to improving both nutrition and education, which in turn fosters stronger communities. Working with Tetra Pak, Fauji Foods hopes to make a significant impact on childhood malnutrition in Pakistan and help ensure every child the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Tetra Pak is proud to support its customer by helping to make this initiative a success by providing the technical support and global best practises.
Beyond immediate nutritional benefits, the Sustainable School Nutrition Program is designed to create lasting change. To help ensure this, it will include 1) conducting public awareness campaigns to educate communities on the benefits of UHT milk and safe packaging solutions, 2) establishing sustainable supply chains to ensure long-term community resilience and 3) implementing transparent data and reporting to measure improvements and drive policy expansion nationwide.
Moving forward, Tetra Pak and Fauji Foods are collaborating with stakeholders to scale up the programe across the country.
“Safe and healthy milk is a wonderful way to provide nourishment to young school children, fostering better health and encouraging school attendance. It is also crucial that the milk remains safe from bacteria and contamination. This is made possible through both UHT treatment and aseptic packaging technology, which maintains the milk's nutritional integrity and safety without chemicals or preservatives, even when no refrigeration is available.”
Awasin Bin Nasim, Managing Director, Tetra Pak Pakistan
