A divisional “Back to School” program held at Government Muslim Higher Secondary School No. 1 Syedpur Road, Rawalpindi, brought education officials, development partners and local school councils together to promote the 2025 enrollment drive, encourage students to return after summer break, and mobilize efforts to re-enroll out-of-school children.
The event was attended by Additional Commissioner (Revenue) Rawalpindi Masood Bukhari and Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Rawalpindi Mohammad Abdullah Khan. Chief Executive Officer, Murree, Nuzhat Kulsoom Shehzadi and district education officers from Chakwal, Attock and Jhelum participated representing the Chief Executive Officer. Chief Executive Officer, District Education Authority Rawalpindi, Tariq Mahmood, also addressed the gathering. Representatives from PMIU Lahore—Raheel Arshad, Program Officer Monitoring and Evaluation, and Shehzada Sohail, Procurement Officer—joined the proceedings.
Organizers said the program aimed to welcome students back after the summer holidays, raise public awareness about bringing out-of-school children into classrooms, and boost the 2025 enrollment campaign. Participants highlighted the need for coordinated community action to identify and enroll children who have dropped out or never started school.
Tariq Mahmood outlined recent education initiatives by the Punjab government and presented the latest district- and division-level enrollment figures. He reported notable improvements in Rawalpindi’s enrollment rates and stressed that, in line with provincial directives, intensive enrollment activities are ongoing across all schools. He praised provincial measures such as free textbooks, scholarships and improved facilities as important drivers of greater access to education and reaffirmed the District Education Authority Rawalpindi’s commitment to meeting its educational targets.
Raheel Arshad of PMIU Lahore presented district-wise data on out-of-school children for the Rawalpindi division and offered guidance on strategies to bring these children back into school. His presentation underscored the importance of data-driven outreach and targeted follow-up to convert awareness into actual enrollments.
Additional Commissioner Masood Bukhari commended the efforts of the District Education Authority and pledged full support to achieve the education objectives. Members of school councils, formed per education department instructions, also took part and reiterated their commitment to grassroots outreach. Council members said they would play an active role at the neighborhood level to ensure children’s enrollment and to inform parents about available services and support.
Organizers said the program not only raised awareness but also produced immediate results through on-the-spot enrollments, demonstrating the value of bringing stakeholders onto a single platform. They described the Back to School initiative as a milestone for the Rawalpindi division that will accelerate progress toward wider educational access and support the Punjab government’s vision of education for all.
