Rawalpindi’s district administration has begun safety inspections covering about 8,300 public and private schools, with teams expected to submit their findings by Tuesday, October 20.
The exercise follows concerns over school-building safety after incidents elsewhere in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to Dawn.
District Education Authority chief executive Yaseen Khan Baloch said teams had been established in each tehsil to examine school buildings and emergency arrangements.
What inspectors will check
The district’s schools include approximately 7,000 private institutions and 1,300 public schools, according to the education authority figures reported by Dawn.
Inspectors have been asked to assess structural stability, identify unsafe buildings and review fire precautions, security measures and emergency preparedness. Assistant commissioners are overseeing the work in their respective areas, with education officials supporting the teams.
The inspections began on Sunday, October 18, and are scheduled to continue through October 20.
Private schools ask for more time
The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association has requested additional notice and preparation time. Its representatives say schools need clear inspection standards and time to gather documents, arrange technical assessments and address any deficiencies.
The association says it supports student safety but wants the process to be practical and transparent. Its concerns were also reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan.
For parents, the crucial questions are what inspectors find and whether authorities require repairs, restrictions or closures at unsafe premises.
The administration had not released a school-by-school list of inspection findings in the reports reviewed for this draft. The results, expected on October 20, will determine whether the audit leads to corrective action.