LAHORE (Education Reporter) — In a major crackdown following the recent structural collapses, the Punjab Minister for Education has announced the immediate closure of all unregistered academies across the provincial capital.
Visit to the Tragedy Site and Condolences
The Education Minister visited the site of the Baghbanpura tragedy, where he personally inspected the collapsed building structure. Following the inspection, he visited the residence of the child who tragically lost his life in the incident to offer condolences and prayers (Fateha Khwani). During the emotional visit, the deceased child’s father shared cherished memories of his son, leaving the Education Minister visibly tearful and deeply moved.
Rana Sikandar Hayat also met with the Suthra Punjab workers who were the first to pull the affected child out of the debris. He commended their bravery and announced that official certificates of appreciation would be issued to honor their swift response. Expressing his grief, the Minister stated that his heart was profoundly heavy over the back-to-back tragedies in Kahna and Baghbanpura.
Investigation Reveals Administrative Failures
Sharing critical details regarding the Baghbanpura school, the Minister revealed that an Assistant Education Officer (AEO) had inspected the school 15 days prior to the incident and demanded its building fitness certificate. At the time, the officer was told that the female owner was away for Hajj.
The Minister explicitly stated that neither a No Objection Certificate (NOC) nor a building fitness certificate had been acquired for the school’s extension project.
Shutdown of Unregistered Academies
Taking strict administrative action, the Minister announced:
“Starting today, we are shutting down around 760 unregistered academies in Lahore. All academies must obtain building fitness certificates before September, failing which they will not be permitted to reopen.”
He reiterated that the safety and protection of children remain the government’s topmost priority, and only those academies possessing verified fitness certificates will be allowed to operate in the future.
Appeal to Parents and Society
Rana Sikandar Hayat appealed to parents to cooperate with the government by refusing to send their children to study in unregistered and unsafe buildings. He directed that all academies must obtain the necessary clearances and certificates from all relevant departments.
Concluding his address, the Minister stated that the government is actively streamlining the registration process for schools and academies. However, he emphasized that it is also the civic duty of society to stay vigilant and immediately inform the department about any unregistered schools or academies operating in their localities.