The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) and Interactive Research & Development (IRD) have agreed to intensify efforts to bring private schools into the Islamabad Deworming campaign to ensure broader coverage of school-aged children.
Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, Chairman PEIRA, met with IRD Senior Program Advisor Qadeer Baig to discuss operational challenges, noting that limited participation from private institutions has created coverage gaps in recent rounds of the Pakistan Deworming Initiative. Both sides recognised that improving coordination is essential to protect children’s nutrition, growth and learning outcomes.
PEIRA committed to facilitating outreach and engagement with private school administrations across its jurisdiction. The authority will support measures aimed at increasing compliance and simplifying participation so that private institutions can more easily join future deworming activities.
To translate these commitments into action, PEIRA and IRD plan a series of meetings and orientation sessions for private school leaders in Islamabad over the coming months. These sessions will focus on clarifying roles, addressing operational barriers and building awareness about the public health benefits of the Islamabad Deworming programme.
The Pakistan Deworming Initiative remains a nationwide priority, and stronger collaboration between PEIRA and IRD is expected to close coverage gaps in the capital. By bringing private schools into the fold, programme managers aim to reach more children and strengthen long-term health outcomes across Islamabad.
