Lahore High Court Dismisses Petitions Against Outsourcing of Government Schools in Punjab

Lahore:The **Lahore High Court** has dismissed petitions filed against the outsourcing of government schools in **Punjab**, rejecting the challenges brought forward by petitioners including senior lawyer **Aitzaz Ahsan**.

The court, led by **Justice Shahid Karim**, heard the case involving the petitions challenging the Punjab government’s decision to privatize government schools. The petitioners’ lawyer argued that the government’s move to outsource schools was against the law and would lead to an increase in school fees. They expressed concerns that the privatization would deprive poor children of basic education in government schools.

However, the government’s counsel defended the decision, explaining that the government was outsourcing only closed or non-functional schools through **public-private partnerships**, and that these schools would still remain under the control of the Punjab government.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court dismissed the petitions and ruled in favor of the government’s plan to outsource the schools, effectively rejecting the request to halt the decision.