Islamabad, Dec 27: The Lahore High Court has ruled that the registration of new schools will now depend on adherence to a stringent school bus policy. The directive, issued during a hearing on smog mitigation efforts, was presided over by Justice Shahid Karim.
Justice Karim stressed the importance of providing pick-and-drop transport services for students, declaring that no new school registrations will be permitted until institutions comply with the policy. A detailed implementation report on the school bus policy has been ordered by December 30.
The court expressed dissatisfaction with the Secretary of Schools for not enforcing an earlier directive requiring schools to provide bus services for at least 50% of their students. Justice Karim criticized the lack of compliance and warned of strict repercussions for continued non-implementation.
To enhance student safety, the court mandated fitness certificates for all school buses and instructed transport authorities to develop a comprehensive vehicle fitness policy within 15 days. School buses must now undergo inspections every three months to meet safety standards. Additionally, mobile inspection units are to be established by the transport department to ensure compliance, with a November 26 deadline for initiating these operations.
The court issued a stern warning to non-compliant schools, stating that their premises could be sealed, and barred schools from absolving themselves of responsibility for student transportation through disclaimers to parents. These measures aim to ensure safer, more environmentally friendly transport solutions and address the pressing smog crisis.
