A concrete roof collapsed onto a tuition centre in Lahore on Tuesday morning, killing at least 14 children and injuring dozens more. Witnesses described a deafening crack before the ceiling gave way, burying students in their seats. The centre, operating illegally in a residential building, had been flagged for safety violations but remained open.
Britain’s Foreign Office has pledged £500,000 in emergency aid for rescue efforts and announced a ‘full structural safety review’ of UK-funded schools in Pakistan. But critics ask: why did it take a catastrophe for London to act?
Sources confirm the building was constructed without permits and lacked proper reinforcement. Local officials had received bribes to ignore the violations. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers dig through rubble.
This is not an accident. It is a predictable outcome of systemic corruption and negligence. Britain’s aid money will flow, but until Pakistan holds builders and inspectors accountable, more children will die.
