Chand Bagh School is an independent
boarding school
A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
for boys at
Muridke
Muridke (Punjabi language, Punjabi / ), is a city and headquarters of Muridke Tehsil of Sheikhupura District in Punjab Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the List of most populous cities in Pakistan, 37th largest city of Pakistan by population. M ...
in the
Sheikhupura District
Sheikhupura District (;
), is a district located in Lahore Division of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Sheikhupura is the headquarters of Sheikhupura district. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the district had a population of 3,321,029 of ...
of
Punjab, Pakistan
Punjab (, ) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. With a population of over 127 million, it is the Demographics of Pakistan, most populous province in Pakistan and the List of first-level administrative divisions by popu ...
, approximately 40 km north of
Lahore
Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...
.
The school opened in September 1998, having been conceived as a Pakistani version of
The Doon School
The Doon School (informally Doon School or Doon) is a Selective school, selective all-boys Private school, private boarding school in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, which was established in 1935. It was envisioned by Satish Ranjan Das, a lawyer ...
of
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. The name "Chand Bagh" refers to the Doon School's estate at
Dehradun
Dehradun (), also known as Dehra Doon, is the winter capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, d ...
, India.
History and name
The origins of the school lie in the
independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
of
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
in 1947 and the series of
Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
Since the partition of British India in 1947 and subsequent creation of the dominions of India and Pakistan, the two countries have been involved in a number of wars, conflicts, and military standoffs. A long-running dispute over Kashmir and ...
which have since followed. In 1985 a group of Pakistan's "
Ex-Doscos", alumni of the
Doon School
The Doon School (informally Doon School or Doon) is a selective all-boys private boarding school in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, which was established in 1935. It was envisioned by Satish Ranjan Das, a lawyer from Calcutta, as a school model ...
, who had attended it in the days of
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
, travelled to Dehradun in India to attend the school's 50th anniversary celebrations. On their return they formed a Doon School Society of Pakistan, which aimed to create a Pakistani version of their old school. After many years in gestation, the school was finally founded by
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
Ghulam Jilani Khan
Ghulam Jilani Khan ( Punjabi, , 1924-1999) was a senior general of the Pakistan Army who served as the 14th Governor of Punjab Province and 11th Defence Secretary of Pakistan in the military government of President General Zia-ul-Haq.
Ji ...
, a former
Governor of the Punjab Province, himself a Dosco,
[Nauman Tasleem, ]
Punjab govt donates Rs 60m to an elite school
' dated 17 June 2011 from ''Pakistan Today
''Pakistan Today'' is a Pakistani English-language daily newspaper, published by Nawa Media Corporation from three Pakistani cities Lahore, Punjab; Karachi, Sindh; and Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory. The newspaper later launched a busin ...
'' online at pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 24 March 2012 and ten fellow-trustees. In many respects Chand Bagh is modelled on
Doon School
The Doon School (informally Doon School or Doon) is a selective all-boys private boarding school in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, which was established in 1935. It was envisioned by Satish Ranjan Das, a lawyer from Calcutta, as a school model ...
,
Dehradun
Dehradun (), also known as Dehra Doon, is the winter capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, d ...
.
The name "Chand Bagh" means "
moon garden
A moon garden, also known as a twilight garden, evening garden, night garden, moonlight garden, or dream garden, is a type of garden designed to be enjoyed at dusk and nighttime. Fragrant flowers, light-colored vegetation or blooms that are vis ...
" and was chosen in memory of the original
Doon School
The Doon School (informally Doon School or Doon) is a selective all-boys private boarding school in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, which was established in 1935. It was envisioned by Satish Ranjan Das, a lawyer from Calcutta, as a school model ...
, which had been established in 1935 on the Chand Bagh estate at
Dehradun
Dehradun (), also known as Dehra Doon, is the winter capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, d ...
, now in the
Indian state
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 subnational entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into 800 districts and smaller administrative divisions by the respe ...
of
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...
.
The principal architect of the new buildings, which have
Romanesque influences, was
Kamil Khan Mumtaz. The school opened its doors in September 1998 and occupies a campus of some 190 acres.
[Principal's Message]
at chandbagh.pk. Retrieved 22 March 2012 Around the campus are the Chand Bagh Farms, a further 270 acres.
Education at the school

The school teaches in the English language. Boys are admitted in April into Grades 5,6, 7, 8,9 and 12
[ and work towards passing O-Levels and ]A-Level
The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...
s of the University of Cambridge International Examinations Board. The student–teacher ratio
The student–teacher ratio or student–faculty ratio refers to the number of students who attend a school or university divided by the number of teachers or staff in the institution. For example, a student–teacher ratio of 10:1 indicates that ...
is maintained at 15:1.[About Us]
at chandbagh.bravehost.com. Retrieved 22 March 2012 Entry is selective, based on an admission test. In March 2011 such tests were announced to take place in Karachi
Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
, Rahim Yar Khan
Rahim Yar Khan (; ) is a city in the Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the List of most populous cities in Pakistan, 21st most populous city in Pakistan and is the capital of the Rahim Yar Khan District. The city's administration is div ...
, Quetta
Quetta is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It is the ninth largest city in Pakistan, with an estimated population of over 1.6 million in 2024. It is situated in the south-west of the country, lying in a ...
, Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad (; , IPA: ʊzəfːərɑːbɑːd is a city in Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute ...
, Gilgit
Gilgit (; Shina language, Shina: ; ) is a city in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit–Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kas ...
, Sukkur
Sukkur is a city in the Pakistani province of Sindh along the western bank of the Indus River, directly across from the historic city of Rohri. Sukkur is the List of cities in Sindh by population, third largest city in Sindh after Karachi and H ...
and Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...
,.
In Grades 6, 7 and 8 all boys take English, Urdu, Art, Computing, General Science, Geography, History, Islamiyat, Mathematics, and Physical Education. On entering Grade 12, all pupils need to choose subjects to follow for their final two years of secondary education, taking three or four A-Level courses. The main options are Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Business Studies, Urdu, Computing, Economics, and Accounting, plus the General Papers. The school thus gives its boys a grounding in humanities and natural sciences but focusses on the sciences in Grades 12 and 13.[
As of June 2011, each student is charged Rs 30,000 or more per month to attend this school.][
In 2011 the school advertised for new staff, stating that it was "looking for young dedicated faculty members as part of its expansion programme", naming twelve subjects, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Islamiyat, Economics, Accounting, History, Geography, Mathematics, Business Studies, Computer science, and English.
]
Extracurricular activities
In school sports, Chand Bagh competes against Aitchison College
Aitchison College is an elite private, boarding school, boarding Junior School, Secondary School for boys in Lahore, Pakistan. It has educated Prime Minister of Pakistan, prime ministers, including Imran Khan, Feroz Khan Noon, president of Pakist ...
, PAF College Sargodha, Chenab College Jhang and many other renowned institutions of the country at cricket
Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
, hockey
''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...
, football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
and basketball, and takes part in the Shapes Cricket League. In September 2006 there was a cricket match against the Wynberg Boys' High School
Wynberg Boys' High School is a State school, public English language, English medium boys high school situated in the suburb of Wynberg, Cape Town, Wynberg of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Founded in 1841, it is one of ...
of South Africa.
The school hosts the annual All-Pakistan Art Competition, and that of 2011 was the ninth such event, when students from twenty-six institutions stayed at the school and were asked for work on the subject of "Ray of Hope". The judges presented shields and a trophy, and all paintings were later on display in Lahore. The principal of the school, Syed Nusrat Ali Shah Kazmi, opened the exhibition and said the competition was intended to discover potential.
The 10th All Pakistan Music Festival was also held at Chand Bagh School in late January, 2011.
Official support
In 2010 Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who has served as the 20th prime minister of Pakistan since March 2024, having previously been in the role between April 2022 to August 2023. He ...
, Chief Minister of the Punjab, was the main speaker at the school's annual Prize Day. He used the occasion to announce the provision of a grant of Rs 50 million for the school's Endowment Fund and two new buses. He said
At the ninth Founder's Day, on 26 February 2011, the main speaker was Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yusuf Raza Gilani (born 9 June 1952) is a Pakistani politician who served as the 16th prime minister of Pakistan from 2008 to 2012. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 2024. Chairman Gilani served as the acti ...
, Prime Minister of Pakistan, who saluted the vision of General Ghulam Jilani Khan "which created opportunities for the deserving students of the less privileged sections to acquire quality education in the school like Chand Bagh". He concluded by announcing the payment of Rs 40 million "as first instalment for endowment fund".[Speech of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, On the occasion of 9th Founder's Day of Chand Bagh School]
at infopak.gov.pk. Retrieved 25 March 2012 This led to criticism in ''Pakistan Today
''Pakistan Today'' is a Pakistani English-language daily newspaper, published by Nawa Media Corporation from three Pakistani cities Lahore, Punjab; Karachi, Sindh; and Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory. The newspaper later launched a busin ...
'', which quoted sources as suggesting that "...at a time when thousands of schools in the province were without proper buildings, endowing an elite school was a waste of public funds".[ ''The Economist'' of Pakistan commented that "This elitism has left a big question mark on the Punjab government's sincerity to provide education to all."
When the Punjab Assembly approved its budget for the year 2011–2012, Chief Minister Sharif commented on the grants of Rs 50 million for the school. In response to objections from the Opposition, he said Chand Bagh plays "an important role in the promotion of education in the country and right of no one had been violated by giving donation to the school,"] and that the school was "not only for rich families" as it also offered places for "children of extremely poor families, destitute and orphans."
For the tenth Founder's Day, on 26 February 2012, the chief guest speaker was announced as Chaudhry Abdul Majid, prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (), abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir ( ), is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entitySee:
*
*
* and constituting the western portion of the larger ...
.
on the twelfth Founders day, February 2014 the chief guest was Mohammad Sarwar Governor of Punjab, Pakistan
Principals
*1998–2001: Andrew Maclehose, previously of Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is a private Anglican co-educational boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located in Corio on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay.
Establ ...
and the International School of Geneva
The International School of Geneva (in French: ''École internationale de Genève''), commonly known as Ecolint, is a private, non-profit international school based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Background
Founded in 1924 in the service of the Leagu ...
*2001–2002: Bernard C. Biggs, previously a housemaster at Rugby School
Rugby School is a Public school (United Kingdom), private boarding school for pupils aged 13–18, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire in England.
Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independ ...
and headmaster of St George's School, Windsor, and Karachi Grammar School
Karachi Grammar School is an independent, English-medium school located in 3 different campuses across Karachi. The main and oldest campus is located in Saddar, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is a highly selective, coeducational day school (formerl ...
*2002–2007: Saleem Arshad Kashmiri, formerly headmaster of Aitchison College
Aitchison College is an elite private, boarding school, boarding Junior School, Secondary School for boys in Lahore, Pakistan. It has educated Prime Minister of Pakistan, prime ministers, including Imran Khan, Feroz Khan Noon, president of Pakist ...
*2007–2010: Muhammad Asif Malik, formerly head of Sadiq Public School
The Sadiq Public School (SPS) is a college-preparatory boarding school located in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. It also takes day pupils. It is one of the largest schools in Pakistan and its area of makes it both the largest in the country and ...
*2010–2012: Colonel (Retd) Syed Nusrat Ali Shah Kazmi SI,[ formerly head of Chinar Army Public School and College
* 2013–2017: Muhammad Tariq Qureshi Air Commodore (Retd) ]Tamgha-e-Basalat
Tamgha-i-Basalat () is an award of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
See also
* Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces
References
External links
Decorations and Medals of PakistanMilitary Awards of Pakistan
(archived 5 July 2009 ...
formerly head of PAF Public School Lower Topa
PAF College Lower Topa is an all-boys military boarding school situated at Lower Topa, Murree which is located near Patriata in the Murree region of the Murree District of Pakistan. Situated on a hilltop, the institution is made up of a series o ...
*2018–2024: Ch. Muhammad Afzal.
*2024– Present: Muhammad Abdul Naeem Khan Sqn. Ldr.(Retd)
Associated school
The separate "Chand Bagh Day School Campus" formerly known as Chand Tara School, opened in 1999, caters for girls of all ages up to the Higher Secondary Education Certificate and also for boys up to Grade 5.Chand Tara
at chandbagh.pk. Retrieved 12 April 2012
Gallery
File:Ghulam Muhammad Jilani.jpg,
File:Welcome to CBS.jpg,
File:CBS Mosque.jpg,
File:CBS Entrance.jpg,
File:Chand Bagh School sports collage.jpg,
File:Training Combo.jpg,
File:Health Centre at CBS.jpg,
File:CBS Summer Workshop.jpg,
File:CBS Campus.jpg,
File:CBS Library.jpg,
References
External links
*
Chand Bagh School Documentary Part B
at SpeedyShare
photographs by Raja Ishaq
Slide show of Chand Bagh School by Cbstian
at wordpress.com
Hockey Match between Aitchison College & Chand Bagh school Lahore
(photograph at panoramio.com)
{{The Doon School
Sheikhupura District
Boarding schools in Pakistan
Boys' schools in Pakistan
Cambridge schools in Pakistan
Educational institutions established in 1998
Private schools in Pakistan
The Doon School
1998 establishments in Pakistan