Karachi: During a recent meeting led by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the progress of repairing schools damaged in the 2022 flood was evaluated, with directives issued to expedite the construction of flood-resistant school buildings. The meeting addressed the status of 4,162 schools currently under repair out of the 19,808 affected by the flood, highlighting a significant ongoing educational disruption in the region.

According to Chief Minister Sindh, the meeting held at the Chief Minister House included discussions on the urgent need to restore educational facilities to provide safe learning environments. With 7,503 school buildings completely destroyed and 12,305 partially damaged, the scale of the disaster’s impact on education is substantial. Murad Ali Shah emphasized the priority of education and directed the School Education Department to focus on quality construction and resilience against future floods.

The meeting was attended by key figures including Education Minister Sardar Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, and various secretaries, who reviewed the detailed impacts of the flood on the region’s school infrastructure. The Chief Minister was informed about the reduction in student numbers from over 5 million before the flood to approximately 2.33 million, underscoring the vast number of children affected by the closures and damages.

Funding for the reconstruction efforts includes substantial contributions from international and federal sources. The Asian Development Bank, European Union, World Bank, and various other agencies are involved, with a total budget exceeding 16 billion rupees earmarked for school rehabilitation. The completion of these repairs is targeted for 2026 to minimize the long-term disruption of educational activities.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the ongoing efforts under temporary arrangements to ensure that educational activities continue in the affected areas, with a call for these measures to be short-term solutions only. The comprehensive plan involves not just rebuilding but enhancing the flood resilience of schools to mitigate future risks.