At least 14 children have been killed after the roof of a private tutoring centre collapsed in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into possible negligence.
Emergency responders from Punjab’s rescue service said they recovered the bodies of 14 children and a 30-year-old female teacher from beneath the rubble of the after-school learning centre following Tuesday’s collapse.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said, "Initial findings suggested the tutoring centre had been operating without official registration from a privately owned residential building with a deteriorating roof.”
Private tutoring centres are widely used across Pakistan, with many pupils attending additional classes outside normal school hours to prepare for examinations.
In a statement, Bokhari also said that authorities would investigate whether negligence, safety failures or breaches of the law had contributed to the incident.
“If negligence, carelessness or any violation of the law is established, those responsible will face strict legal action,” she added.
The Punjab government has also ordered inspections of unsafe buildings ahead of the annual monsoon season, when heavy rainfall can further weaken ageing structures.
Officials have additionally been instructed to introduce tighter regulations for unregistered tutoring centres and other privately run educational institutions.
Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, expressed his condolences to the families of those who died and called for stronger building safety measures to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
