LAHORE, Pakistan: As the city prepares for the reopening of schools after summer vacations, the District Education Authority has confirmed that 45 schools in flood-affected areas will remain closed until further notice, due to severe infrastructure damage and their ongoing use as relief camps for displaced residents.
The closures are concentrated in flood-hit zones such as Shahdara, Saggian, Maraka, Chung, Manga, and Bund Road, where schools have either been damaged by floodwaters or converted into shelters for affected families.
According to official data, the shutdown list includes 33 government schools, three under the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), one under PEIMA-PSSP, and eight private institutions, including the British Grammar School and The Heaven School System in Raiwind Tehsil.
Several prominent government institutions are also impacted, such as Government Higher Secondary School Maraka Quarter, Government High School Shahdara Mor Farakh Abad, Government Higher Secondary School Niaz Baig, and Government Central Model School No. 2 Rattigan Road.
While the majority of Lahore schools will reopen on September 1, uncertainty looms for students in these affected zones. Officials have stressed that safety remains the top priority, and classes will only resume once structural inspections confirm that the buildings are secure.
The prolonged closure has raised concerns among parents and education advocates about academic disruption, particularly for students from low-income communities. Authorities have hinted at the possibility of temporary alternative learning arrangements, though no official plan has yet been finalized.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.