Afghan medical students instructed to leave Pakistan, major decision of PMDC

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has taken a major decision regarding Afghan medical and dental students studying in Pakistan and directed them to return to Afghanistan. The PMDC has also directed medical colleges and other related institutions to complete the necessary administrative procedures for the return of the students and issue them with no-objection certificates.

The PMDC letter issued on September 1 clarified that no new admissions will be given to Afghan nationals in medical and dental programs during the current academic session. In addition, placement, transfer and migration facilities for them have also been terminated.

The council has directed medical and educational institutions not to provide any unauthorized facilities to Afghan nationals and to strictly follow the instructions issued earlier. The institutions that have not yet submitted the compliance report have been asked to provide the required details within three days. PMDC has warned that in case of violation of instructions, concealment of information or unauthorized facilitation, action can be taken under the PMDC Act 2022.

Afghan Embassy expresses reservations

The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has also reacted to the PMDC decision. The embassy demanded that the educational matters of Afghan students be kept separate from political differences so that they can complete their ongoing education.

According to the Afghan Embassy, ​​the affected students include young people who started their education years ago under the legal procedure and are now close to completing their degrees. The embassy has appealed to Pakistani authorities and relevant international organizations to play a role in protecting the educational rights of these students.

Amnesty International is concerned about the future of female students

Amnesty International has also expressed concern over the decision. The human rights organization says that this move could have a serious impact on Afghan female students in particular.

According to the organization, women in Afghanistan are already deprived of access to higher education, so the closure of the path to continue medical education in Pakistan could further limit their professional future. Amnesty has stressed the need to avoid discrimination based on national background in education.

Objections to the decision in Pakistan too

Some political and social figures in Pakistan have also expressed reservations about the PMDC's move.

Former federal minister Mushahid Hussain Syed demanded the withdrawal of the decision, saying that preventing Afghan students from continuing their education is inconsistent with Pakistan's past humanitarian role.

Former Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan also appealed to the PMDC to review the decision. According to him, students who are already studying in medical colleges and universities should be given the opportunity to complete their degrees and arrangements can be made for their return to Afghanistan after completing their education.

Lawyer and human rights activist Muneeza Kakar also strongly criticized the decision. They said that forcing Afghan students to drop out of school is unfair, while the consequences for Afghan female students could be even more serious. They demanded that the PMDC withdraw the decision and allow the students to complete their medical degrees.