Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has ordered a province wide survey of school buildings and a review of safety arrangements in educational institutions following a roof collapse that killed children in Peshawar’s Dir Colony.

Dr Syed Aamir Abdullah, an advisory council member for education, directed Elementary and Secondary Education Secretary Inayatullah Waseem on October 16, 2026, to review applicable safety rules and develop a comprehensive mechanism for their effective implementation.

A report assessing the condition of educational buildings, examining safety arrangements and identifying potential hazards has been requested within four days. The exercise is intended to establish the condition of school facilities and provide a basis for measures to protect students.

Inspections will cover the physical condition of school buildings and premises across the province, alongside the safety measures available to pupils.

In a related appeal, Samar Haroon Bilour, an advisory council member for information and public relations, urged the public to help identify dilapidated school buildings requiring inspection.

Expressing deep sorrow over the Dir Colony incident, Abdullah said student safety must be the highest priority in educational institutions. He also attended the collective funeral prayers for the children killed in the collapse and offered condolences to their families.

The directive focuses on assessment and does not include a dedicated repair allocation or a published school by school rehabilitation programme. Completion of the survey and submission of its findings will be the immediate next step.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan

The tragic collapse of the roof of Al Khair Education System, a private educational institution in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, which claimed the lives of dozens of children and teachers, has raised serious questions about school building construction standards, official approvals, structural fitness certification and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

According to preliminary information, the affected school was registered with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (KP PSRA) in March 2026. However, complete records confirming a formal technical inspection of the building’s structural integrity and official approval of its fitness have yet to emerge.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed, referring to the preliminary findings of the investigation, described the school building as structurally weak and poorly constructed. According to his assessment, the fragile condition of the structure contributed to the collapse, while reports have also emerged suggesting that steel reinforcement bars were not used in the construction.

However, definitive findings regarding the use of steel reinforcement, the quantity of reinforcement materials and the overall construction quality will only become clear following a detailed technical inspection and comprehensive investigation.

Police have arrested the school owner and launched an investigation, while a criminal case has also been registered against the school owners, shareholders and construction contractor.

The case reportedly refers to the use of substandard construction materials and the deteriorating condition of the building’s roofs and walls. According to police records, concerns about the building’s condition had previously been raised, but the school administration allegedly failed to address them.

Investigators are also examining whether the required building safety standards were followed during the original construction and any subsequent structural modifications.

According to Javed Iqbal, Managing Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority, the affected school was registered in March 2026.

He told the media that investigations had revealed that technical experts were not present during the school’s inspection, although the participation of qualified construction professionals was essential to assess the building’s foundations, classrooms and overall structural condition.

This revelation has raised a fundamental question: if the school had been officially registered, was a structural stability assessment obtained from a qualified civil or structural engineer before its registration?

If a building fitness certificate had been issued, which institution and authorised official approved it? Furthermore, were all floors, roofs, columns and foundations properly examined before approval was granted?

The incident is not the first involving the collapse of an educational institution’s building in Pakistan.

On June 30, 2026, the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area, killing 14 children. Investigations revealed that the tuition centre was operating in a residential building and was not registered with any relevant government authority.

Similarly, on July 2, 2026, the roof of an under-construction private school collapsed in Lahore’s Baghbanpura area, killing one child and injuring several others.

Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to conduct immediate safety audits of school buildings in densely populated areas and initiate legal action against those responsible for substandard construction.

On May 7, 2026, the roof of a classroom at a private school in Dera Ghazi Khan collapsed, killing four children and injuring 20 others. Investigations revealed that expansion work was underway at the school building.

In September 2024, the roof of a private school in Muzaffargarh collapsed, killing one student and injuring six others. The incident also raised concerns about unauthorised construction on an upper floor and the additional structural load placed on an ageing roof.

On September 11, 2026, the collapse of a deteriorating government school wall in Karachi’s Orangi Town claimed five lives.

Similarly, on June 30, 2026, three girls lost their lives when the boundary wall of a government primary school collapsed in Sindh’s Umerkot district.

These incidents indicate that structural safety risks are not confined to private educational institutions, as government school buildings also require comprehensive safety assessments and regular inspections.

Following the latest tragedy in Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has directed the Communication and Works Department to establish district level technical teams to assess the structural condition of government school buildings across the province.

The teams will inspect roofs, walls, foundations, beams, staircases and other structural components to identify potentially unsafe buildings and recommend necessary remedial measures.

District authorities have been instructed to submit their assessment reports by October 26, 2026.

Reports have also emerged that district level inspection committees are being established to examine the structural safety of private school buildings across the province.