The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Secretary of the District Registering Authority/District Education Authority (DEA) Lahore has mandated that leading private schools in the city provide transportation for at least 50% of their students by October 1, 2024. Non-compliance will result in strict actions under existing regulations.
This directive follows a meeting held on September 11, where the implementation of a Lahore High Court order regarding student transport was discussed. School owners and principals have been formally notified of the necessity to arrange or hire buses to accommodate half of their student body.
Schools are required to submit bus route plans to parents, ensuring that all vehicles are well-maintained, possess valid fitness certificates, and undergo necessary inspections—covering fuel, tire pressure, and brakes—prior to each journey.
Drivers must hold valid licenses, be medically fit, and provide their CNIC, contact information, and addresses to the school. Strict measures are in place to prevent overloading, with a stipulation that the number of students must not exceed the vehicle’s seating capacity. Additionally, a teacher or caregiver must accompany students to supervise the driver and ensure adherence to safe driving practices, including compliance with speed limits.
A school’s registration or extension will depend on an undertaking confirming the arrangement of buses, with full implementation of these directives required by the specified deadline.
Sources within the Punjab School Education Department have indicated that similar directives will be issued to private schools in other districts of Punjab to ensure compliance with the Lahore High Court’s order.
