The Punjab government has announced strict measures to ensure student safety, banning classes in unsafe school buildings across the province following the recent roof collapse incident at a tuition center in Lahore’s Kahna area.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government will not allow educational activities to continue in hazardous structures and is conducting a comprehensive assessment of government school buildings to identify safety risks.
The announcement comes after a tragic roof collapse at a tuition center in Kahna that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 students, while rescue teams recovered injured children and a teacher from the debris.
The minister said fitness data is being collected from all government schools in Punjab, while reconstruction work is already underway for around 550 dangerous school buildings identified as requiring urgent attention.
Rana Sikandar Hayat added that nearly 100 schools may be in such poor condition that they cannot be used for teaching purposes. However, he clarified that classes can continue in buildings that have approved maps and proper safety records.
He also assured women providing tuition services from their homes that the government would not create unnecessary hurdles or restrictions for their work.
The education minister urged parents to remain vigilant and report unsafe school conditions to authorities. He further said inspections after the privatization of some schools revealed missing facilities, including fans and desks, in several buildings.
Highlighting Punjab’s broader education challenges, Rana Sikandar Hayat said around six million children remain out of school in the province, and the government is working to increase enrolment and improve educational facilities.
