Authorities have suspended licences of 25 private education institutes in Karachi for violating the government directives to close the schools over coronavirus fears.

After presiding over a meeting of the Task Force on coronavirus in Karachi on Sunday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had ordered to keep closed till March 13 all the educational institutions - including tuition centres - across the province.

The CM also warned of strict action against the institutions who would violate the order.

Around 25 schools were found to be open on Monday during an inspection in different parts of the city, according to a press release issued by Dr Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui, the director-general for private institutions of the provincial education and literacy department.

It said that the licences of these private institutions were "immediately suspended". The chairman of the board of secondary education was also recommended to take action against the schools.

The press release stated that the heads of the educational institutions have been summoned to the office of the DG for private institutions, after which the relevant deputy commissioner will decide on the cancellation of their registration and the sealing of the premises.