Zamindara Islamia High School: Punjab’s first high school

The school does not charge a fee and all the expense are bore by management body called Muthidah Anjuman

FAISALABAD: With its perfect past and long history of imparting education, Government Zamindara Islamia High School, the first high school established in rural areas of united Punjab, needs an immediate and due attention of the authorities.

Hundreds of residents of Dasuha and adjacent villages blamed the education authorities for step-motherly treatment with the one of the leading secondary schools for not giving its due recognition and status. The residents complained that more than 14 schools in the vicinity of Dasuha were upgraded to the higher secondary school level but the case of upgrading Government Zamindara Islamia High School to higher secondary level is in cold storage for the last three decades.

Founded by Khan Shahib Mehar Abadan, Zamindara High School was the first high school established in the rural areas of the then united Punjab in 1911. He looked after and the management the institution till 1917. It was the only school in which students coming from all across Punjab were provided the facility of boarding. The construction of the school was completed with an amount of Rs759,000 for which Abadan sold his agricultural land to pay for the construction expenses. In 1918, a managing body called “Muthidah Anjuman” was constituted to run the affairs of the school until it was nationalised in 1972.



There are 22 class rooms, accommodating around 650 students and 18 teachers in the school. The school management committee comprises of Dasuha’s notables and the village has the highest enrolment and literacy rate throughout Faisalabad district. Interestingly, the school does not charge any tuition fee while the expenses of maintenance, operation, salaries of teachers and other recurring overheads are bore by Muthidah Anjuman.

The then Punjab governor Sir Odvor, who visited the school, had termed the institution as one of the best institutions in the province even though it was located in a small village.

This school has a history of distinction in sports. Lal Shah Bokhari, an alumni of this school, led the Indian national hockey team in 1932 Summer Olympics held in Germany. His game was so superior the umpire personally checked his hockey and changed three sticks in one single game. Football Team of this school won All Punjab Open Cup Tournament in 1921 and All Indian Food Ball Open Tournament 1946 held at Lahore.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Zamindara High School headmaster Muhammad Arshad said the government should give due importance and upgrade the status of the school. He said the institution has provided imparted education to thousands of students who later served the nation and the country.