CHINIOT: The district education authority (DEA) has sealed 140 private educational institutions operating across the tehsils of Lalian, Bhowana and Chiniot for functioning without valid registration certificates and e-licences.
Under the Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance, 1984, as amended from time to time, all private schools are required to obtain registration and an e-licence from the relevant district education authority to continue operations. However, data collected by the DEA through its field formations revealed that 140 schools were either operating without registration or their e-licences had expired on March 31 last year.
Officials said the school owners had neither applied for renewal nor extension of their e-licences, which are issued for a period of two years. Show-cause notices were issued to the institutions, directing them to submit registration documents to the relevant tehsil education offices.
According to the notices issued on March 10, 2026, the assistant education officers observed during inspections that the institutions were operating without registration. The notices directed school administrations to complete the registration process within seven days and submit proof to the department, warning that failure to comply would result in strict action, including sealing of the premises.
Several institutions found operative without valid registration certificates, e-licences
Following non-compliance, the DEA ordered its field formations to seal the schools until further orders. The operation began on March 20 and continued during the Eid holidays, with assistant education officers carrying out the enforcement action.
The move has triggered strong reactions from private school owners, who have demanded more time to complete the registration process.
“Under the new registration system, schools are required to obtain and upload a building fitness certificate from the Punjab Buildings Department and a sanitation and hygiene certificate from the district health office. These processes involve inspections and cannot be completed within a week,” said Muzammil Hussain, secretary of the Private Schools Owners Association. He urged authorities to grant at least one month for compliance.
Meanwhile, DEA Chief Executive Officer Azhar Niazi has convened a meeting of the district registration authority, to be chaired by Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Rizwan on March 24, to review audit observations regarding unregistered schools and consider penalties.
Deputy District Education Officer Muhammad Ishaq Tabassum said the sealed institutions had long been evading registration requirements despite repeated instructions.
He maintained that sufficient time had been given to the schools before the sealing operation was carried out.
Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026.
