PM Shehbaz Sharif Orders Urgent Reforms for Islamabad Government Schools

What Happened

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to address the state of government schools in Islamabad. During the meeting, he directed the urgent implementation of reforms focusing on several key areas:

• Infrastructure and Facilities: The Prime Minister ordered that all infrastructure-related issues be resolved on an emergency basis to ensure a safe learning environment. He specifically called for the installation of smart boards in all schools as soon as possible, the promotion of solarisation, and the construction of ramps for students with physical disabilities. He also directed the provision of quality healthcare facilities in schools.
• Institutional Reform: He directed the formulation of a strategy to transform the Federal Directorate of Education into an effective and efficient institution. Additionally, officials noted the need to grant headteachers greater authority and promote innovation.
• Staffing and Teaching: The Prime Minister ordered that teacher recruitment be carried out strictly on merit. He instructed that teachers should focus solely on teaching and related educational duties rather than participating in other activities.
• Student Welfare and Transport: He directed the activation and restoration of a free lunch programme to ensure proper nutrition. Regarding transport, he instructed authorities to expand the government school bus service, consider outsourcing transport services, and introduce third-party validation. Officials informed the meeting that 278 government buses are currently operating to transport schoolchildren.
• Curriculum and Technology: Reforms were directed for the curriculum and teacher training. A survey report regarding curriculum and infrastructure was presented, following instructions issued by the Prime Minister in September 2026.

According to officials briefed at the meeting, most government schools in Islamabad currently possess internet connectivity, clean drinking water, computer laboratories, and other basic facilities.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has been instructed by the Prime Minister to resolve the issues facing Islamabad’s government schools within one week.

Attendees at the meeting included Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Dr Musaddiq Masood Malik, Attaullah Tarar, and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, as well as Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and other senior departmental officials.