The private school system of education in Punjab has undergone a rapid transformation in education. For those who are a building or managing a private school in the province the Building Fitness Certificate requirement is no longer something that can be deferred.
It is the complete history, what is currently needed and how to meet the requirement.
Why This Became Urgent
Not only was there a push toward mandatory building fitness certification, but there was a push toward the building owner and occupier to get it. It came after several unfortunate building collapses at private educational institutes in Kahna and Baghbanpura areas of Lahore.
In these collapses, students and one teacher were killed and injured. There was another incident reported in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Timeline of the Notification
May 7, 2026: The Initial SED Directive
The School Education Department (SED) Punjab has issued a memo (Ref: SO(A-I)3-4/2023). It made it compulsory for schools to get a Building Fitness Certificate from the Communication & Works (C&W) Department, Government of Punjab.
The Chief Executive Officers of District Education Authority (DEA) were asked to provide a report on compliance. It report had to be submitted to Director of Public Instructions (Secondary Education) in the Punjab within seven days of receiving the letter.
May 18, 2026: Formal Proposal for Mandatory Certification
The Communication and Works Department formally recommended imposition of Building Fitness Certificates for all private schools in the province. It is after the expressed concerns of the CEO of DEA Lahore.
The recommendations of the proposal included in-depth structural assessments, especially in schools housed in residential buildings. It recommended the appointment of independent third party consultants and engineering companies to conduct the inspection.
Authorities said that there are close to 3,500 private schools in Lahore that are covered under the existing system of registration.
Early July 2026: Enforcement Following Building Collapse Incidents
In response to the Kahna, Baghbanpura, and Dera Ghazi Khan incidents, a Zoom meeting was held on July 3, 2026 chaired by the Secretary of the School Education Department. The meeting for immediate measures to be taken for safety.
The notifications came in at the district level soon after. For example, on the same date as the directions issued by DEA Vehari, directions were issued to register unregistered private schools, to conduct formal school mapping, and to issue Building Fitness Certificates from the C&W Department.
It was backed by a One-Window Registration Operation (OWRO) that took place from July 4 to July 10, 2026.
July 17, 2026: Policy Relaxation Allowing PEC-Registered Engineers
It is the biggest change in times. The School Education Department has issued a new notification to private schools to be able to get their Building Fitness Certificate from an alternative source.
Schools can now use either the C&W Department, or any civil engineer or engineering firm registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). The change was a result of relentless lobbying by the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA).
APPSMA representatives met with the Punjab Minister for Communications and the involved officials, to express concern regarding the C&W-only requirement. It was a direct result of their efforts.
The relaxation was of a real bottleneck. The C&W Department had reportedly ceased issuing new certificates altogether, and thousands of schools were unable to reach the Department through the old single channel channel to complete registration.
What is Currently Required to get this Certificate?
Based on the most recent notification, Where things stand for private schools in Punjab.
| Requirement | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Building Fitness Certificate | Mandatory for school registration and renewal |
| Issuing Authority | C&W Department or any PEC-registered civil engineer/engineering firm |
| Applies To | All private schools; the May directive also extended this to public schools |
| Registration Platform | PEPRIS (Private Education Provider Registration & Information System) |
CEO Education Tariq Mahmood has stated that there is still a Building Fitness Certificate required for school. He stressed that these security measures are crucial to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
How to Obtain Your Building Fitness Certificate
- Select the certifying authority you want to use. Now you can go to either to the Communication & Works Department or a civil engineer/engineering company registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council.
- Arrange a structural inspection. Your school building will be evaluated by the certifying engineer or department for strength, stability and overall safety.
- Get the certificate. After the building has been inspected, it will be issued with a formal Building Fitness Certificate by the certifying authority of your choice.
- The PEPRIS registration, renewal and E-License process is done through PEPRIS portal at pepris.pesrp.edu.pk.
It is the School Education Department that has developed PEPRIS with the support of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
What Happens If Your School Doesn’t Comply?
A Building Fitness Certificate has now been directly linked to the registration and renewal process. A school registration status is at risk if it does not comply.
District Education Authorities have also been instructed to actively seek out the registration of the unregistered private schools. In the future, schools that are not properly registered or don’t have a valid certificate will be subjected to further analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all private schools in Punjab need a Building Fitness Certificate?
Yes. This certificate will be required for all new school registrations and renewals after the 2026 notifications. The May 2026 directive expanded to public schools.
Can I still get the certificate from the C&W Department?
The July 17, 2026 notification did not drop the C&W Department altogether, but added PEC-registered civil engineers and engineering firms as an additional, quicker solution.
Why did the government relax the original C&W-only requirement?
C&W Department had suspended issuance of new certificates, leaving a huge backlog. The government accepted the APPSMA advocacy that registered engineers under PEC would be another certifying body.
