A Medical Education Cut Short? PMDC Orders Afghan Students' Return

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued important directives regarding Afghan nationals studying at medical and dental colleges and universities across the country, barring the admission, placement, transfer, migration, or provision of any other facility to Afghan citizens in medical and dental institutions during the current academic session.

The PMDC has directed that Afghan nationals already enrolled in medical or dental programmes in Pakistan be sent back to Afghanistan in accordance with the existing policy. Relevant educational institutions have been instructed to complete the necessary administrative procedures for their return, issue the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and facilitate their departure.

In a letter issued by the Head of the Council Department, the PMDC directed all universities and their affiliated public and private medical and dental institutions to strictly comply with the instructions contained in its previous letter issued on July 31, 2026.

The Council clarified that, until further orders, no Afghan national may be provided admission, placement, transfer, migration, or any other form of facility in medical or dental education during the current academic session.

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According to the letter, institutions that have not yet submitted the required compliance report must provide the PMDC with complete details of Afghan students within three days.

The PMDC warned that failure to comply with the directives, delays, concealment of information, or providing unauthorized admission or facilities to any Afghan national would be taken seriously. Regulatory action may be initiated under the PMDC Act, 2022, in case of violations.

In light of the PMDC's directives, King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Lahore, has also started taking action regarding Afghan students enrolled at the university.

A letter issued by the university's Registrar's Office instructed the relevant authorities to complete all necessary procedures concerning Afghan students through the office of the Assistant Registrar, MBBS, within 24 hours.

According to a list issued by King Edward Medical University, a total of 22 Afghan nationals are associated with the MBBS programme.

The list shows that one student is enrolled in first year, six in second year, four in third year, one in fourth year, and eight in the final year of the MBBS programme. Two individuals are listed as having recently completed their graduation.

This means that a significant number of the Afghan students listed at King Edward Medical University have already reached the final stages of their medical education.

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