Over 3,000 Punjab schools damaged by floods

Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat revealed on Thursday that more than 3,000 schools have been destroyed by recent floods, leaving the education of thousands of students in crisis.

The disclosure came during his meeting with Unicef’s Representative to Pakistan, Pernille Ironside, where both sides discussed ongoing educational initiatives and agreed to strengthen cooperation for improved outcomes.

Education in Crisis

Minister Hayat explained that the provincial school education department had already been struggling with a shortage of facilities before the floods, but the natural disaster has now pushed the system to the brink.

“The department is now confronted with the challenge of rehabilitating these schools,” he said. Many institutions remain submerged, further delaying recovery.

To cope with the urgent need for classrooms, the minister announced that:

• Three shifts will be introduced in functioning schools to accommodate displaced students.

• The government will rent private buildings and establish tent schools in flood-hit areas to ensure continuity of classes.

• Rehabilitating the damaged schools is expected to take around three months.

Additionally, the Punjab government has waived semester fees for students from flood-hit families and pledged to provide scholarships to support their education.

Flood Impact Beyond Schools

While education struggles to recover, large swathes of Punjab remain under water. Despite official claims of improving conditions, three breaches at the Noraja Bhutta embankment on the Sutlej River have left entire villages submerged in Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur districts.

In eastern Jalalpur Pirwala, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur, villages such as Noraja Bhutta, Basti Lang, Kotla Chakar, Bahadurpur, Mouza Kanu, Kandeer, Jhaiyu, Deepal, Tarut Basharat, Daily Rajanpur, Belaywala, Dunyapur, Jhangra, Muradpur Soiwala, and Sabra are still trapped under 8 to 10 feet of stagnant water.

“The water isn’t going down. About 70% of houses have already collapsed, and the rest will follow if nothing is done,” said Altaf Lang, a distressed resident. He warned of a looming health crisis as the water has turned murky, bringing the threat of waterborne diseases.

The Motorway Controversy

Local residents have pointed to infrastructure as a major obstacle to flood relief, particularly blaming the nearby motorway. They allege that the culverts built under it are too small to allow floodwater to drain, effectively acting as a dam and trapping water on one side.

“The motorway isn’t usable for traffic now anyway. The authorities should breach it to let this water drain,” said Altaf Lang. “The current culverts are not designed for water passage; they are just for locals and cattle to cross. They are completely blocked.”

However, NHA General Manager Kashif Nawaz rejected this demand. Speaking to Dawn, he insisted there was “no question of breaching the motorway”, adding that water was already passing through culverts. He said the National Highway Authority was reinforcing vulnerable sections with stones while ensuring culverts remained open.

Looking Ahead

With thousands of schools in ruins, villages submerged, and health risks escalating, Punjab faces a dual challenge of educational rehabilitation and disaster management. While temporary fixes like tent schools and fee waivers may provide short-term relief, residents warn that without urgent drainage solutions, lives, homes, and futures remain at risk.