Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directs urgent improvements in school infrastructure, curriculum, teacher training, student nutrition, transport and accessibility across Islamabad’s government schools.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered urgent reforms across government schools in Islamabad, directing authorities to address infrastructure problems, improve teacher training, introduce free lunches for students and expand school transport services.
Chairing a high-level meeting on school reforms, the prime minister instructed the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to develop a strategy to transform the organisation into an effective and efficient institution.
Shehbaz directed Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal to resolve issues facing government schools in the federal capital within one week. He also called for all available resources to be mobilised immediately to address the schools’ problems.
The prime minister stressed that providing students with a safe learning environment was the government’s responsibility. He ordered authorities to resolve infrastructure issues on an emergency basis and ensure that schools offered better facilities for students.
Free lunches and improved facilities
To support students’ nutritional needs, Shehbaz directed officials to activate a free lunch system in Islamabad’s government schools. He also called for the installation of smart boards in all schools as soon as possible.
The prime minister instructed authorities to improve medical facilities in government schools and promote solarisation to support their energy needs.
He further directed that ramps be installed in all government schools to improve accessibility for students with physical disabilities.
On staffing, Shehbaz emphasised that teacher recruitment must be based strictly on merit. He also directed that teachers in Islamabad’s government schools should not be assigned activities unrelated to teaching and education.
Expansion of school transport
The prime minister called for an expansion of government school bus services and directed officials to consider outsourcing buses used for student transportation, alongside third-party validation.
Officials informed the meeting that 278 government buses were operating across Islamabad to transport schoolchildren.
The directives form part of broader efforts to address deficiencies in the federal capital’s public education system, including infrastructure, curriculum, staffing and student welfare.
Survey identifies school needs
During the meeting, officials presented a survey report covering curriculum, infrastructure and other matters in Islamabad’s government schools. The survey was conducted in accordance with the prime minister’s instructions issued in September 2026.
According to the briefing, most government schools in Islamabad already had internet access, clean drinking water, computer laboratories and other basic facilities. However, officials also outlined infrastructure problems at some schools included in the survey.
The briefing highlighted the need to empower head teachers and promote innovation in government schools.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Attaullah Tarar and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, as well as Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior officials from relevant departments.
The prime minister directed the concerned authorities to implement the reforms urgently, with particular emphasis on resolving school infrastructure problems, improving teaching standards and ensuring better facilities for students across the federal capital.
About The Author
