KARACHI: The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has directed all institutions affiliated with it to enforce a complete ban on CNG and LPG in vehicles used to transport students.
In a notification issued on August 6, BSEK Secretary Dr Naveed Ahmed instructed school heads to ensure that operators providing student pick-and-drop services immediately stop using the two fuels in transportation vehicles.
The directive applies to student transport vehicles operating for affiliated educational institutions, including during school vacation periods. Schools have been asked to take responsibility for monitoring the vehicles used by transport operators and ensuring that they comply with the board’s instructions.
Under the new instructions, vehicles found violating the ban will not be allowed to continue operating as school transport. Authorities may also impose fines and impound vehicles that fail to comply with the directive.
BSEK has further ordered educational institutions to conduct regular inspections of student transport vehicles. Schools must monitor whether transport operators are following statutory requirements and relevant judicial directives before allowing vehicles to continue providing pick-and-drop services.
The board has also asked schools to launch awareness campaigns for parents, students and transporters. These campaigns will highlight the potential dangers associated with using CNG and LPG in vehicles carrying students and will also explain the relevance of the Gujrat case precedent.
The latest decision places greater responsibility on schools to monitor private transport services used by their students. Instead of relying solely on transport operators, institutions will be expected to regularly check vehicles and take action when violations are identified.
The ban is part of broader efforts to improve the safety of student transportation in Karachi. By restricting the use of CNG and LPG and strengthening inspections, authorities aim to reduce potential risks associated with fuel systems in vehicles carrying schoolchildren.
Schools and transport operators have therefore been urged to ensure immediate compliance with the BSEK directive to prevent enforcement action and maintain safer transportation arrangements for students.
