The private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony whose roof gave way was registered in March 2026, Managing Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (KP-PSRA) Javed Iqbal said on Thursday. The collapse killed at least 30 children and two female teachers, and several others remain in critical condition.
Speaking while the investigation continues, Iqbal said officials had found that no technical staff were present when the school was inspected.
Gaps in inspection and registration process
Iqbal stressed that technical officials must take part in inspection visits, because they assess the number of classrooms, the foundations and the overall structural condition of a building. When a school is registered, its classrooms and other facilities are examined, and construction experts are expected to check the building and submit a report, he said.
He also said the authority lacked the legal power to close an unregistered school under the current arrangements.
Accountability promised as inquiry proceeds
Iqbal expressed concern and said such incidents should never happen, adding that those responsible for negligence would not escape action. He cautioned, however, that responsibility would be fixed only once the inquiry is complete.
Separately, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) in Peshawar confirmed the arrest of the school’s owner. He said the institution had been operating under the name of an educational trust, and that the building had been poorly constructed, which contributed to the tragedy.
Rescue hampered by unstable building and narrow lanes
Rescue efforts are facing obstacles. A rescue service spokesperson said heavy machinery has not been deployed because the building remains structurally unstable. Narrow streets around the site also make it hard to bring heavy equipment close to the damaged structure.
