Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), under the Vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, on Friday celebrated United Nations International Education Day at “Government RUDA Girls Elementary School – Mouza Nath Kalan” in Natt Kalan village, which falls under the jurisdiction of Ravi City. The event, organized in collaboration with School Education Department (SED) Punjab, UNICEF Punjab, and Tetra Pak Pakistan, underscoring a shared commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for providing quality education and holistic well-being of every child.
Chief Operating Officer RUDA, Brig. (R) Mansoor Ahmed Janjua, graced the occasion, while celebrating International Education Day, at Natt Kalan Village in Ravi City. While interacting with children, he listened to their aspirations, participated in activities, and emphasized RUDA’s dedication to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all children in its development areas. While speaking on the occasion, RUDA COO Brig (R) Mansoor Janjua said “Education is the cornerstone of sustainable development, adding that under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, RUDA is committed to transforming Natt Kalan into a model village where every child has access to quality education and holistic growth.”
Building on this pilot success, RUDA’s Village Uplift Programme is planned across 93 villages, where integrated socio-economic initiatives will be undertaken. Additionally, the trajectory and development model of Natt Kalan will soon be emulated in six more villages, reinforcing RUDA’s commitment to scalable and sustainable rural transformation. The programme encompasses education, health, skill transformation, and targeted interventions in traditional economic activities aligned with the local political economy, along with a range of other socio-economic measures aimed at long-term community resilience.
Aligning with UN principles of inclusive education and child rights, the partners distributed essential learning and nutrition kits to the students during the event. UNICEF Punjab contributed school bags and stationery, ensuring children have the basic tools to pursue their education. RUDA, as part of its CSR, distributed color pencils and coloring books to foster creativity and cognitive development. Tetra Pak Pakistan provided nutritious milk packs, reinforcing that good nutrition is a fundamental right and a critical enabler of effective learning.
United Nations Education Manager Punjab, Kamran Iftikhar Lone, while highlighting the significance of the day, said, “On this day, while we reaffirm our resolve to advancing an education system in Ravi City that embraces the promise of new technological interventions, while safeguarding the essence of human creativity, compassion, and purpose.”
Representing Provincial Education Department, CEO District Education Authority Nazeer Hussain said, “This educational uplift in Nath Kalan Village signifies our commitment to leveraging education for positive social impact”.
The initiative is a direct implementation of the honorary vision of the Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif for holistic model village upliftment. Under this transformative agenda, Natt Kalan Village has been designated as the pilot village for RUDA, serving as a blueprint for comprehensive rural transformation where education is the foundational pillar for creating model communities.
While marking the UN International Day of Education, RUDA Director Special Initiatives & CSR, Fatima Ali Khan said that “Our commitment is to inclusive learning for all children. By revitalizing schools and providing essential resources, we are building a foundation for lifelong opportunity and community empowerment.
RUDA Deputy Director CSR, Syed Moazam Ali said, “Today’s event underscores a collective dedication to educational equity. We are proud to initiate programs that ensure every student receives the nutrition, tools, and support necessary to thrive in their learning journey, he added.”
This collaborative effort between RUDA, government bodies, and international partners exemplifies a multi-stakeholder approach to community development in the pilot model village. It moves beyond infrastructure to directly address the interconnected needs of education, nutrition, and inclusion, paving the way for sustainable progress in Natt Kalan and future model villages. Senior officials of RUDA, District Education Officer Lahore, Dr. Nazia Asif, along with Provincial Education department officials were present on the occasion.