Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have ordered safety inspections of private schools across the province following a deadly roof collapse in Peshawar. More than 30 children died and 51 others suffered injuries in Thursday’s incident in the city’s Dera Colony area. Officials have also launched separate investigations to determine the cause and identify those responsible.
Read More: Peshawar school roof collapse kills four children and injures twenty
According to documents obtained by WeNews, the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has registered 12,503 private schools across the province. Peshawar has the highest number, with 1,806 registered institutions, followed by Swat with 1,130 and Mansehra with 977. Officials said the affected school had recently received registration as a middle school, although it also enrolled ninth-grade students.
The provincial government has assigned the Special Branch to inspect private school buildings and assess their safety. Under rules introduced in 2018, district scrutiny committees inspect school buildings during registration. The regulations also cover student security, educational facilities and CCTV cameras. School owners must submit affidavits confirming compliance with relevant requirements. However, some registered schools have reportedly faced objections over their building conditions.
Authorities have decided to conduct an independent investigation instead of relying solely on the PSRA’s fact-finding inquiry. Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Inayat Waseem said the Chief Secretary’s Office raised concerns because the authority handles both school registration and investigations. A two-member committee, led by the transport secretary, must submit its findings within seven days. Police have also established a separate committee led by a senior superintendent of police.
Read More: Peshawar school roof collapse death toll rises to thirty
Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said the government would register a case against the school owner. Investigators will examine whether education officials or other parties contributed to the incident and whether the school’s registration followed legal requirements. Meanwhile, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi alleged that previous amendments had removed the authority’s power to take action. He said officials involved in those changes could also face action.