Punjab education minister orders closure of all unregistered academies

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Jul, 2026) Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat on Friday announced immediate closure of all unregistered academies across the province, saying that educational institutions operating without mandatory fitness certificates would be sealed to ensure students' safety.

Speaking to the media during a visit to the site of the Baghbanpura building collapse, the minister inspected the damaged structure and later visited the residence of the child who lost his life in the incident to offer condolences and prayers for the deceased.

The minister also met the Suthra Punjab sanitation workers who rescued the first child from the debris and announced commendation certificates in recognition of their bravery and timely response.

Expressing grief over the Baghbanpura and Kahna incidents, Sikandar Hayat said an assistant education officer had inspected the school 15 days earlier and demanded its building fitness certificate. However, the school administration had informed officials that the owner was away on Hajj.

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He said the school had neither obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the building's extension nor acquired the mandatory fitness certificate.

Announcing strict action, the minister said nearly 760 unregistered academies in Lahore would be closed with immediate effect. He added that all academies must obtain fitness certificates before the reopening of educational institutions in September, otherwise they would not be allowed to operate.

"The safety of children is our top priority. Only those academies that obtain the required fitness certificates will be permitted to function," he said.

The minister urged parents not to send their children to schools or academies operating in unregistered buildings. He also directed all academies to obtain the required approvals and certificates from the relevant departments.

Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government would streamline the registration process for schools and academies and urged citizens to report unregistered educational institutions to the authorities so that appropriate action could be taken.