Authorities mandate sealing of unsafe schools to protect students and staff
The Punjab School Education Department has issued a directive to vacate all school buildings deemed structurally dangerous, sending formal notifications to district authorities across the province. Under the new order, students are strictly prohibited from entering or attending classes in any building classified as unsafe.
Officials have instructed that all dangerous and partially dangerous school structures be sealed immediately. Warning signboards are to be displayed prominently at these government school sites to alert the public. The move comes amid growing concerns about building safety in educational institutions.
Separately, a recent survey by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in Karachi highlighted widespread safety lapses in the city’s infrastructure. The survey revealed that nearly 90% of buildings in eastern, central, and southern districts lack adequate fire safety equipment. This follows the Gul Plaza tragedy, which claimed over 70 lives, underscoring the urgent need for strict safety measures. Inspectors found most fire safety devices either non-functional or poorly maintained, while emergency exits were often blocked, locked, or entirely absent, according to SBCA officials.
Authorities in Punjab and Sindh are now under pressure to enforce rigorous building safety standards to prevent further loss of life.
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