LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday issued notices to private school chains to submit action plans for providing transportation services within their institutions by the end of the winter break.

The notices were served in response to the orders issued by the Lahore High Court.

Punjab School Education Department (SED) Secretary Khalid Nazir Wattoo directed private schools to submit detailed plans for transportation services till the winter break.

He said that the failure to comply with the directive could result in the cancellation of school registrations.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had given one-month time to all schools for fresh registration in compliance with the policy of bus facility for students whereas the Punjab government asked all private school chains to purchase buses within 30 days.

Hearing multiple public interest petitions on environmental issues, Justice Shahid Karim directed the school education secretary to suspend the registration of any school that fails to comply with the school bus policy.

The LHC directed the SED that notices shall be served on private schools for renewal of registration upon submission of plans for transporting the students through buses. “In case the plans are incomplete or insufficient and do not conform to the requirements of the instructions issued by the School Education Department the registration of these schools will be suspended”.

The SED secretary directed the administration of the private school chains to provide the written action plan/ mechanism regarding the arrangement of buses at least 50 percen for the students of school. The registration of the school will be suspended if the action plan/ mechanism are incomplete, insufficient, or do not comply with the instructions already issued by the competent authority.

The secretary also sought details regarding the number of students, the availability of buses and the list of students availing the school transport services.

Mr Wattoo said the private school owners must comply with court directives without exception and the department will not tolerate any form of negligence in this regard.

Meanwhile, Lahore District Education Authority (DEA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nazeer Hussain Chheena directed the private school chains operating in the city to provide data on bus purchases.

He issued notices to private school chains, including Lahore Grammar, Beaconhouse, Lacas School, City School, Learning Alliance School, and others. Institutions that fail to provide data in compliance with the orders of the Lahore High Court will have their registration canceled. Full implementation of the Lahore High Court’s orders will be ensured.

The CEO said that it was the responsibility of the schools to provide transport for children after the winter break.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025