Hundreds of schools in Mansehra, Battagram and Kohistan still incomplete, court told
Bench grants six months for compliance, questions decades-long inaction
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed severe dissatisfaction over the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government’s failure to reconstruct schools destroyed during the 2005 earthquake, questioning why rehabilitation work remained unfinished even after two decades.
A five-member larger bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the suo motu case concerning the poor state of government schools in quake-affected districts. The bench included Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Hasan Azhar Rizvi, among others.
20 years on, hundreds of schools still incomplete
The suo motu notice was taken after reports revealed that numerous school buildings in Mansehra, Battagram and Kohistan remained incomplete, with many still operating in makeshift shelters or tents. Despite multiple reconstruction programs launched since 2005, progress has been painfully slow.
Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi noted that 107 school units in Mansehra and 11 in Kohistan were still unfinished. “It’s been 20 years since the 2005 earthquake,” he remarked. “We’re sitting here in 2025 how much more time do you need?”
Government cites weather, logistical hurdles
Appearing before the bench, the Additional Secretary for Education claimed that implementation was “underway” but requested an extension due to logistical issues and harsh winter weather. “Snowfall during winter affects construction work,” the provincial counsel added.
Justice Mandokhail, visibly frustrated, responded, “Even after the 2005 earthquake, the schools have not been completed. Constructing new schools is important, but repairing the old ones is equally necessary.”
Neglected infrastructure, broken promises
A 2021 report by The Express Tribune, citing the K-P Planning and Development Department, painted a grim picture of the province’s public education system:
- 16,000 government schools required urgent attention
- 3,300 lacked boundary walls
- 4,272 had no clean drinking water
- 5,456 were without electricity
- 2,836 had no toilets including 800 girls’ schools
Experts warn such conditions have discouraged enrolment, contributing to K-P’s estimated 3.8 million out-of-school children one of the highest figures nationwide.
Court warns against further negligence
The bench granted the K-P government an additional six months to comply with reconstruction directives but warned that negligence would not be tolerated further.
“We gave you time upon your own request now show us progress,” Justice Aminuddin Khan said.
Justice Mandokhail added, “We are only saying that you must fulfil your responsibility.”
Local communities in districts like Balakot devastated in 2005 say their children still attend classes under tents or open skies. “We’ve been hearing promises for years,” one parent told reporters outside the court. “But no classrooms have been built.”
The court directed the K-P Education Department to submit a comprehensive progress report within six months, outlining timelines for the completion of all pending projects. The case will be taken up again after the report’s submission.