Owners of privatised public schools in Punjab have begun reselling them, prompting authorities to take notice.
Complaints from multiple districts reveal that several schools across the province are being transferred to second-hand buyers for negotiated amounts.
In one such case, Sanam Mir, the original buyer of Government Girls Primary School Karor, has been issued a notice for reselling the school without approval.
The school has now been taken over by new owner Maqsood Raza, who has assumed full possession.
Teacher unions claim the resale of privatised schools is widespread across Punjab, with two to four schools reportedly resold in each district.
The third phase of privatisation, involving 7,500 more schools, is already underway.
The Punjab SES Teachers Association and Educators Association leaders — Muhammad Shafiq Bhalowalia and Basharat Iqbal Raja — have called for an immediate halt to privatisation.
They warn that it will increase educational costs and push more children into street life. According to their estimates, the number of out-of-school children in Punjab has reached 28 million and may rise to 30 million by March 31, 2026.
They also warned of serious consequences from the rationalisation of teachers and schools under the privatisation plan.
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