LAHORE: In the wake of the Kahna incident, where several children lost their lives after a school roof collapsed, authorities have made it mandatory for all private schools in Lahore to secure a building fitness certificate before registration or renewal.
According to media report, nearly 3,500 private schools across the city will be required to undergo this certification process. Special inspections have been planned for institutions operating in rented premises and residential buildings, which are considered more vulnerable.
Under the proposal, a comprehensive structural safety audit will be conducted for school buildings.
Officials have recommended engaging third-party engineering consultants to ensure transparency and adherence to technical standards. The inspections will involve both destructive and non-destructive testing methods to accurately assess the strength and safety of the structures.
The School Education Department has also been advised to establish a province-wide system for issuing building fitness certificates.
Recommendations emphasize that third-party verification should guarantee technical quality, transparency, and timely action, while identifying unsafe institutions to protect the lives and property of students.
The move comes as part of urgent measures to prevent further tragedies, underscoring the need for strict enforcement of safety standards in educational institutions across Punjab.
This draft balances the regulatory urgency with the human impact of the Kahna tragedy, while highlighting the scale of the initiative and its technical rigor.
