Lack of school transport in Punjab raises safety concerns for children

LAHORE: The absence of reliable school transport across Punjab is emerging as a major safety concern, with a large number of public and private institutions still failing to provide buses despite clear directions from the Lahore High Court.

According to a report by The Express Tribune, parents across multiple districts say children are routinely forced to travel in unsafe and overcrowded vehicles, including rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws, vans and pickup trucks, where basic safety measures are either missing or ignored.

Many parents described daily anxiety over their children’s commute. Muhammad Ejaz said eight to ten children are often crammed into small rickshaws without seat belts or regulation, adding that both the government and schools have failed to address the issue. Salma Bibi, another parent, said she had no option but to rely on private vans, with transport costs rising alongside fuel prices while schools continue increasing fees without improving facilities.

Students also reported difficulties, saying unsafe travel conditions persist throughout extreme weather, often leading to delays that affect their studies.

Education experts say school transport is no longer an optional facility but a necessity tied directly to student safety and urban management. They argue that a structured transport system could also ease traffic congestion and reduce environmental pressure.

Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaqat Ali said the situation was particularly severe in low-income areas, where students either walk long distances or travel on motorcycles and overcrowded rickshaws. He claimed that despite government instructions issued two years ago to private schools to arrange transport, implementation remains virtually non-existent. He also raised concerns over unsafe practices such as the use of substandard LPG cylinders in transport vehicles.

Officials acknowledge that there is no effective monitoring system in place to regulate school transport, including vehicle conditions or passenger limits. Government schools largely lack dedicated buses, while private institutions have yet to adopt a uniform policy despite court directives.

Environmental experts have also linked the issue to worsening smog levels, noting that a functioning school bus system could significantly reduce the number of private vehicles on the road. Former environment department director Naseemur Rehman said a single bus could replace dozens of vehicles, but the lack of action continues to undermine potential gains.

Parents and citizens have called on the Punjab government and education authorities to enforce court orders, make school transport mandatory, and introduce strict regulations for private operators, warning that continued inaction could lead to serious consequences for student safety.