The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) said on Thursday that foreign nationals were not barred from pursuing medical education in Pakistan.
The PMD&C clarified that its review of Afghan medical students was focused on regulatory, documentation and immigration requirements rather than nationality.
The council said that foreign students who met the required academic, registration, documentation and immigration conditions could continue to study medicine and dentistry in Pakistan under the applicable laws and government policies.
According to PM&DC, its verification exercise found that more than 200 Afghan students were currently studying medicine in Pakistan, but only 22 were registered with the council. Of these, 14 had already completed their medical degrees, while the remaining eight were due to graduate next year, it said.
The council pointed out that graduating from a Pakistani medical institution did not automatically grant a foreign national the right to stay in the country for employment or medical practice. Those wishing to practise in Pakistan must separately meet the relevant licensing and registration requirements.
PM&DC said verification of the remaining 176 students was continuing, meaning the figure could change once the process was completed. It added that students without PM&DC registration or the permissions required under the relevant legal framework could not be considered lawfully enrolled foreign medical students within Pakistan’s regulated education system.
The council stressed that its actions were being taken based on official records, applicable regulations and directives from competent authorities.
“There is no nationality-based prohibition on medical education in Pakistan,” PM&DC said, adding that the matter concerned compliance with regulatory, documentation and immigration requirements.
It further stated that foreign nationals could not legally pursue medical education outside the prescribed framework or remain in Pakistan without valid immigration status.
The council said it was committed to handling the matter in an orderly and humane manner and ensuring that affected students were assisted in completing required formalities and making arrangements for their return in line with government policy.
