Lack of school transport in Punjab raises safety concerns for students

LAHORE: The shortage of school transport in Punjab is emerging as a major concern, with many public and private educational institutions still not providing buses for students despite court directions aimed at ensuring safer travel.

According to the reported situation, parents and residents have voiced alarm over the daily commute of schoolchildren, saying many students are forced to travel in rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws, vans and pickup trucks. They said these vehicles are often overcrowded and lack basic safety arrangements.

Muhammad Ejaz, a local resident, described the anxiety faced by families over the issue. “We live in constant fear that something might happen to our children. Eight to ten children are crammed into rickshaws, with no seat belts and no accountability. Both the government and schools are neglecting this issue”, he stated.

Parents from different areas said the absence of school-run transport has left them with few options. Salma Bibi, a mother, said she had no choice but to send her children in private vans and complained that transport costs rise further whenever fuel prices increase.

Students have also expressed frustration over the conditions in which they travel. One student said the problem persists in all weather conditions and also affects punctuality and studies.

Concerns over enforcement and policy

The Lahore High Court has directed schools to arrange buses in order to reduce traffic and improve student safety during travel. However, the situation on the ground remains largely unchanged, with many institutions yet to implement transport arrangements.

Education experts have said school transport should now be treated as a basic necessity rather than an optional facility. They believe a serious government response and a clear policy framework could improve student safety while also helping ease traffic congestion.

Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaqat Ali said most government schools are situated in low-income neighbourhoods, where children either walk to school or are taken on motorcycles by their parents. He said the government had instructed private schools two years ago to arrange buses, but that the directive was not followed.

“The government had instructed private schools two years ago to arrange buses, but no one complied. Children travel like livestock—many come in motorcycle rickshaws, while some even ride on bus rooftops. Precious lives are being lost, yet rickshaws and pickups continue using substandard LPG cylinders”, they stated.

The Education Department has not put in place an effective monitoring mechanism to check vehicle fitness or regulate how many children may be carried in a single vehicle. It also said there are no clear rules governing the matter. Government schools do not have their own buses, while private schools have also not adopted a proper transport policy.

Environmental impact also highlighted

Environmental experts have linked the issue to worsening smog, saying a functioning school bus system could cut the number of private vehicles on roads and help reduce air pollution.

Former Environment Department director Naseemur Rehman said the matter was being overlooked despite its wider environmental implications.

Citizens have called on the Punjab government and the Education Department to enforce the Lahore High Court’s directions, make school transport compulsory and introduce clear regulations for private transport operators. Parents warned that if urgent steps are not taken, the consequences could be severe, and urged the authorities to make children’s safety a priority and work toward a lasting solution.