Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered an immediate safety audit of all school buildings located in densely populated areas across the province. The directive followed a tragic roof collapse at a summer camp operating in a private school in Lahore's Baghbanpura area, which left one child dead and several others injured.
Chief Minister's Response
The chief minister took suo motu notice of the incident and sought detailed reports from the Lahore commissioner and the director general of Rescue 1122. Expressing profound grief over the death of the child, she extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
CM Maryam appreciated the efforts of Rescue 1122 personnel for safely rescuing more than 10 children from the debris. She directed rescue teams to expedite the operation to ensure the safe recovery of anyone who might still be trapped under the rubble.
Directives for Medical Treatment and Legal Action
The chief minister also ordered authorities to provide the best available medical treatment to the injured children and other affected persons without delay. She stressed strict legal action against those found responsible for negligence or the use of substandard construction materials, emphasizing that those accountable for the incident must be brought to justice.
“The rescue operation must continue without interruption. Even a single second of delay will not be tolerated,” the chief minister said while directing officials to closely monitor the ongoing rescue efforts.
Background and Context
The incident occurred in a densely populated area of Lahore, raising concerns about building safety standards in schools operating under similar conditions. The safety audit ordered by the CM aims to prevent such tragedies in the future by identifying and rectifying structural vulnerabilities.
According to the United Nations, more than 6,000 people fled Sudan's West Darfur region following threats from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting the broader regional challenges. However, the Punjab government's immediate focus remains on the Lahore incident and ensuring accountability.
