Private educational institutions in Rawalpindi have been given one week to complete their registration, with authorities warning that unregistered school premises will be sealed if they fail to meet the deadline.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the District Registration Authority, Rawalpindi, held on Friday under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Social Services) Fazail Mudassar.
The meeting focused on the registration of private educational institutions, compliance with government regulations and safety inspections of school buildings. Officials stressed that institutions must fulfil the required legal formalities within the given time.
One-Week Deadline for Unregistered Schools
According to the decision, private schools that have not completed their registration must submit the necessary documents and meet all legal requirements within seven days.
Authorities have warned that enforcement action will be taken against institutions that fail to comply. This may include sealing their premises, preventing them from continuing operations until the required requirements are fulfilled.
The move is part of the district administration’s efforts to ensure that private educational institutions operate according to government rules and meet the required standards.
School owners and administrators are expected to review their registration status and complete any outstanding documentation within the deadline.
34 New Schools Receive Conditional Registration Approval
The meeting also reviewed registration applications from 35 newly established private educational institutions.
One application was rejected because the required documentation was incomplete. The remaining 34 applications were considered for registration, but their approval was made conditional on the submission of certificates for information technology (IT) and science laboratories.
The condition highlights the authority’s focus on ensuring that schools meet the necessary educational and facility requirements before completing the registration process.
Institutions seeking registration will need to fulfil the specified conditions and provide the relevant certificates to proceed.
Fines for Schools Violating Summer Vacation Rules
The District Registration Authority also authorised fines against educational institutions that violated government directives during the summer vacation period.
The decision signals that authorities intend to take action against schools that fail to follow official instructions. The administration has not provided details in the supplied information about the number of institutions facing fines or the exact penalties to be imposed.
Schools are expected to comply with applicable government orders to avoid enforcement action.
Safety Inspections Underway Across 8,300 Schools
School building safety was another major issue discussed during the meeting.
District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer Yasin Khan Baloch said the education authority was surveying 7,000 private schools and 1,300 government-run schools across the district. The inspections are intended to identify dangerous buildings and assess whether schools are following required safety measures.
According to the official, surveys of 5,000 schools had been completed. Of these inspections, 300 private schools and 143 government schools had been directed to complete safety measures within one week.
The findings indicate that authorities are examining school buildings and asking institutions to address safety concerns within a specified period.
Third-Party Assessment of School Buildings
The meeting also decided to conduct independent evaluations of the structural condition of private educational institution buildings.
A committee has been formed under the supervision of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Social Services) to oversee the process. The third-party assessments are intended to help determine whether school buildings meet the necessary structural safety standards.
During the proceedings, District Registration Authority member Javed Khan raised concerns about notices issued by some Tehsil Municipal Administration officials demanding the commercialisation of school premises while safety audits were underway.
He urged the Additional Deputy Commissioner to direct the relevant officials to stop such actions during the audit process.
The district administration’s decisions cover school registration, legal compliance and building safety. Private educational institutions in Rawalpindi now face a seven-day deadline to complete outstanding registration requirements or risk having their premises sealed.
