Punjab Moves Toward Safety Reform: Fitness Certificates to Be Mandatory for Schools

Punjab government is preparing a major policy shift aimed at strengthening safety standards in private educational institutions across the province. Under the proposed plan, building fitness certificates will be made mandatory for all private schools to ensure that school structures are safe, stable, and compliant with approved engineering standards. The initiative comes in response to growing concerns about the use of residential and unapproved buildings for educational purposes, which may pose risks to students and staff. According to a letter issued by the Punjab Communication and Works Department, comprehensive structural inspections will be carried out across private school buildings to assess their condition, strength, and long-term safety. The proposal suggests involving independent engineering firms and third-party consultants to conduct unbiased evaluations using both destructive and non-destructive testing methods. A province-wide survey of school infrastructure is also being considered, with authorities highlighting that thousands of private schools, including nearly 3,500 in Lahore alone, fall under the current registration system. Under the new framework, fitness certificates issued by the Building Department will become compulsory for new registrations as well as renewals of existing licenses. Officials have urged immediate policy action from the School Education Department Punjab to implement these recommendations and improve overall institutional safety standards.