Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have directed the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to draft comprehensive safety regulations for private educational institutions. The move follows the collapse of a school roof in Peshawar that killed at least 35 children and two teachers.
According to a notification, the proposed rules will cover the structural safety of school buildings, compliance with building codes and regular safety inspections. They will also limit the number of students allowed in each classroom, address overcrowding, and require emergency exits and evacuation procedures.
Draft rules due to the Education Department within seven days
The PSRA has been asked to prepare the draft in consultation with relevant technical institutions, so that safety standards are properly addressed. The authority must then submit the draft and its recommendations to the Education Department within seven days.
Rescue efforts continue in Dir Colony, Peshawar
The roof collapsed at a school in the Dir Colony area of Peshawar. Initial reports put the death toll at 35, with 52 people injured. Dr Shafique said 33 bodies had been taken to Lady Reading Hospital and two to Naseerullah Babar Hospital.
SP Peshawar City said rescue operations were continuing and the injured had been moved to hospitals. Police were still working to determine how many children were enrolled at the school. Preliminary information suggested around 75 children had been in three classrooms.
Rescue teams have faced difficulties because narrow streets in the area have slowed the operation, the SP said.
