CHINIOT: Three private schools have been sealed for violating the winter vacation orders of the School Education department and 14 other unregistered schools have been issued notices for the recovery of Rs4.2 million.

The District Education Authority (DEA) sealed the premises of Measam English Grammar School and Academy, Chak 134 JB; Cambridge School System Lalian; and Al-Faiz Islamic English Medium High School, Lalian for violating the winter vacation orders of the department.

The DEA CEO also issued show cause notices to the principals of the said schools. The schools had been called for a personal hearing to the office of the CEO.

Chiniot DEA CEO Azhar Sohail Niazi said in a social media message that the department’s teams had been tasked with checking private schools for any violation of winter vacations and strict action would be taken against the violators.

Meanwhile, the District Education Officer (DEO) Elementary had also issued notices to 14 unregistered schools for the recovery of Rs4.2 million fine that had been slapped on them a couple of years ago for their failure to get registered.

Notice were issued to the Gulzar Public School; Ox-Bridge School Chak 238 Bhowana; Al-Mustafa School, Chak 200; Allama Iqbal Education System, Addah Ghagh Chowk; Mohsin Higher Education Complex; Al-Falah Public Model School, Chak 241; Hassan Model Middle School Kalowal; Nade Ali Public School, Lalian; Nayab Kids Grammar School Lalian; Allied Public Primary School Chenab Nigar; Bostan Academy of Learning Kot Qazi; Al-Diwan Public School, Kaloka; Sacred View Elementary School Ganja Tala and Paradise Academy Bhorani Lalian.

The notice said that a fine of Rs300,000 each was imposed on the schools for not getting registered and the fine amount had not been submitted by the schools. The schools had been directed to submit a reply and appear before the DEO (Elementary) for a personal hearing. It warned that if they failed to appear then strict action would be recommended against them.

Private Schools Owners Association Secretary General Dr Muzammal Hussain appealed to School Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat to waive-off the fine imposed on small private institutes.

He said that these schools were operating at the village-level to impart education and the owners could not pay these fines.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2026