PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elementary and secondary education department on Saturday ordered a safety audit of government school buildings across the province and suspension of classes in those found unsafe.

“The students of the unsafe buildings should be immediately shifted to the nearby schools or other suitable safe premises,” read a departmental letter sent to the director (education) following a school roof collapse in Peshawar that killed 31 students and a female teacher.

Director (education) Jaffar Mansoor told Dawn that the education secretary had issued the directives following the tragic Peshawar incident.

“We are conducting a survey of government school buildings, while directions have been issued to the district level formations of the education department,” he said.

Classes to be suspended in unsafe structures; students to be shifted to secure premises

The director said that the department would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of students and teachers on campus.

The letter said that in view of the Peshawar incident, immediate measures must be taken to ensure school safety across the province.

According to it, the directorate of education, all district education officers (male and female) and the relevant field officers will monitor and promptly verify complaints, videos, photographs and reports about unsafe school buildings received through traditional and digital media, departmental channels and other credible sources, including the education department’s official social media accounts.

“Educational activities shall resume only after necessary repairs and fitness certification by the competent technical authority,” it read.

The letter said repairs were to be carried out on a priority basis in coordination with the Planning Wing of the elementary and secondary education department, relevant technical authorities and the communication and works department wherever the need arose.

The department also said that major structural defects should be referred for technical assessment and appropriate remedial action.

“All complaints, inspections, risk assessments and actions taken shall be documented. Immediate threats shall be addressed and reported without delay,” it said in the letter.

The secretary sought a consolidated district-wise report covering inspections, unsafe buildings, suspension of classes, relocation arrangements and remedial measures by Oct 21.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar district administration has launched inspections of public and private educational institutions and seminaries to assess building safety and improve the learning environment.

According to an official statement, administrative officers, accompanied by personnel from Rescue 1122, the communication and works department, Capital Metropolitan Government, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority, EMA, the education department and other relevant bodies, inspected educational institutions in different parts of the city.

It added that the inspections aimed to assess the structural condition of buildings, review student safety arrangements and check the availability of essential facilities.

The administration said an audit committee working under the supervision of the district administration would submit a detailed report on the educational institutions to the higher authorities for necessary action.

Also, the Lower Dir district administration has launched a security audit of government and private school buildings to assess their structural integrity, physical condition and suitability for educational activities.

The district education officer (male) issued a notification constituting a committee comprising education officers and relevant officials from different subdivisions.

Meetings were later held under the chairmanship of the assistant commissioners of Adenzai and Samarbagh to review the inspection process.

Committee members received directives to inspect all public and private schools in the two tehsils within four days and submit building audit certificates.

Separately, the assistant commissioner of Samarbagh and the subdivision officer jointly inspected Government Primary School Sharboni and found one classroom in a dilapidated condition before ordering suspension of classes as a precautionary measure.

In Swabi, too, the district administration has launched inspections of public and private educational institutions to prevent a building collapse.

Officials in the district administration and education department told Dawn that several schools in the district faced problems with rainwater accumulation.

They said the Government Primary School Shindand, located in the district headquarters, didn’t have a proper drainage system.

Deputy commissioner Nasarullah Khan directed members of the school inspection committee to thoroughly examine all campuses, make recommendations on building safety and security arrangements and immediately report any potential threats to authorities for action.

Officials said the initiative aimed to protect students and teachers by ensuring a safe learning environment and addressing risks associated with school buildings in a timely manner.

Assistant commissioner (headquarters) Adnan Mumtaz Khattak and members of the inspection committee visited several government and private schools in Swabi tehsil to review the condition of their buildings and security arrangements.

Our correspondents from Lower Dir and Swabi also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026