The Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad Bench on Tuesday suspended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s notification to privatize public schools across the province, effectively halting the implementation of the plan until further notice.
The court also directed the KP Chief Secretary, Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, and all Deputy Commissioners to submit detailed written responses explaining the rationale behind the privatization move.
The decision came during a hearing on a petition filed by advocates Dr. Muhammad Ishaq Zakariya and Sardar Shuja Ahmad, who challenged the provincial government’s plan to transfer the management of government schools to private organizations.
The petitioners argued that the initiative violated constitutional provisions guaranteeing free and quality education for every child in Pakistan.
During proceedings, the bench observed that education is a fundamental public service and cautioned that privatization could reduce access for children from low-income families. The court ordered the government to refrain from taking any further steps toward privatization until the case is resolved.
Following the verdict, Dr. Zakariya described the ruling as a “significant victory” for education rights in the province. Speaking to reporters, he said the court’s decision reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional guarantees and protecting equitable access to education.
“This decision underscores the judiciary’s responsibility in safeguarding every child’s right to education,” Dr. Zakariya said. “The privatization policy would have deepened social inequality, limiting quality education to those who could afford it.”
He urged the provincial government to strengthen the public education system rather than outsourcing it to private entities. Emphasizing the need for investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and transparent reforms, Dr. Zakariya said education must remain a public duty, not a commercial venture.
The court’s suspension order has temporarily paused one of the province’s most debated education reform policies.
