DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Punjab School Education Department has issued a directive to all deputy commissioners and chief executive officers of the district education authorities across the province to ensure each and every private school in their region is registered.

The direction followed reports that several private schools were operating without registration. The district authorities were also ordered to impose penalties on unregistered institutions as per law.

“A comprehensive compliance report, in a booklet form, must be submitted by all CEOs to the Director of Public Instruction (Secondary Education) in Lahore within seven days,” the order said.

It said the report should include the number of registered and unregistered privately- managed schools per district, along with the amount of recovery made from unregistered schools and penalties imposed on them.

All private and public schools are required to obtain a building fitness certificate from the Communications and Works Department of the Government of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2026