Punjab suspends school morning assemblies amid rising regional tensions

LAHORE: The Government of Punjab has directed all schools across the province to suspend morning assemblies until further notice to ensure student safety amid growing regional tensions.

In a notification issued on Sunday, authorities also ordered schools to strengthen security arrangements by ensuring that CCTV cameras are installed and remain fully operational at all times.

The measures further require teachers to install the Punjab Safe Cities Authority mobile application on their Android devices to stay connected with local authorities. Schools have been instructed to keep main gates closed during school hours to prevent unauthorised access.

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Emergency preparedness has also been emphasised. Institutions have been directed to conduct safety drills and ensure that both students and staff are fully aware of all exit points to enable a swift response in case of any untoward incident.

High school students have been explicitly barred from participating in any protests to keep them away from potential risks during the current situation.

To ensure compliance, schools must submit daily reports, along with photographic evidence, to the relevant authorities. The provincial government reiterated that the measures are temporary but necessary to safeguard students and staff during the prevailing uncertain circumstances.