Every year, the monsoon season exposes the vulnerability of poorly built and aging structures across the country. Intense rainfall, combined with weak construction practices, deteriorating buildings and inadequate regulatory oversight, often leads to fatal roof collapses that claim innocent lives.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on June 30, 2026, when the roof of an unregistered tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna area gave way during classes. At least 14 children, aged between four and 16, lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries. The sequence of events on that fateful day is too painful to recount here.
One only hopes that those responsible are held accountable, and no parent ever again go through the agony the parents of the victims of the Kahna tragedy had been through.
In memory of those victims, the government of Punjab has initiated a roof safety loan scheme named “Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat” (My Roof, Safe Roof).
The initiative enables homeowners across Punjab to obtain interest-free financing of up to Rs500,000 for repairing, reinforcing or replacing unsafe roofs.
In addition, families seeking to expand their homes may access interest-free loans of up to Rs1 million to build extra living space or construct an additional floor.
Shaukat Mir, Lahore
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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