PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has decided to link the registration of private schools in the province to the issuance of building fitness certificates by the relevant building-control authorities following a school roof collapse that killed 31 students and a teacher in Peshawar.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Dr Amir Abdullah, sources in the PSRA told Dawn.
They said the meeting also decided to strengthen the authority’s supervisory role in monitoring private educational institutions. The proposed measures would require amendments to the KP Private School Regulatory Authority Act, 2017.
The sources said in order to prevent the misuse of government building-control authorities, registered private engineering firms would be authorised to issue building fitness certificates.
The meeting also considered obtaining fitness certificates from all private schools operating in the province to ensure the safety of students and teachers and prevent building collapses.
Meanwhile, the PSRA has directed principals and owners of private schools and colleges across the province to immediately verify the approval status of their buildings and obtain any outstanding approvals or permissions from the competent building-control authorities.
According to a notification issued by the authority, copies of approved building plans and relevant permissions must be kept on school premises and made available for inspection.
The notification said some private educational institutions were operating in buildings without obtaining the required approval of building plans from the competent authorities, potentially endangering students, teachers and other occupants and violating applicable laws.
It directed school managements not to undertake any construction, add floors, extend buildings, install rooftop cabins, set up temporary classrooms or make material alterations without prior approval from the competent authority wherever required by law.
The notification added that any notice issued by a building-control authority must be complied with within the prescribed time.
It said that registration with PSRA did not constitute approval of building plans or certification of structural fitness.
The notification warned that premises declared unsafe by the competent technical authority must not be occupied or reopened until written safety clearance was issued.
The regulator directed school managements to make appropriate arrangements to ensure the safe continuation of students’ education wherever necessary.
Describing the matter as urgent, it warned that non-compliance could lead to action by the relevant building-control authority or regulatory proceedings in accordance with their respective legal powers and applicable laws and regulations.
Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026
