The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) have made a stern public notice, instructing some of the major universities in the country to cease all the unapproved postgraduate medical and dental programs.
The regulatory authority announced through a formal public press statement that these institutions have been arbitrarily granting postgraduate degrees and diplomas to MBBS and BDS doctors without having to satisfy the requirements of the required accreditation.
Violation of the PM&DC Act, 2022
The council made it clear that the activities of these universities are directly disobedient to the legal framework that has been in place:
Section 25 Violation: Before postgraduate medical or dental qualifications are launched, institutions should be subject to a prescribed and formal procedure to request recognition and approval. This is a critical step that was not taken by the listed universities.
Section 34 Violation: The Act strictly prohibits any educational institution from offering, operating, or affiliating with medical and dental training programs without prior official recognition from the PM&DC.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has said that as many as 10 universities have been offering unrecognised postgraduate degrees, directing these institutes to discontinue their programmes.https://t.co/0BV2tDIdtR
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) March 25, 2026
List of the 10 Universities Facing Action
The PM&DC has publicly named the following ten universities for operating unrecognized programs:
- Times University, Multan
- NUR International University, Lahore
- Gomal University, D.I. Khan
- Sohail University, Karachi
- Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur
- Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan
- University of Faisalabad
- University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- Hazara University, Mansehra
- Kohat University of Science and Technology
Severe Consequences for Students and Institutions
The PM&DC has made a final order that all the mentioned universities should stop these unknown programs without fail. Moreover, the council cautioned that no institution should be allowed to advertise, introduce or conduct such courses without authorization.
Effect on Existing Trainees: PM&DC made a big announcement that the existing trainees who are enrolled in these unrecognized programs will not be regarded as eligible candidates and their respective qualifications will not be registered under the council.
Why did the PM&DC issue a warning to these universities?
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) issued the warning because these institutions were offering postgraduate medical and dental programs to MBBS and BDS doctors without obtaining the mandatory prior accreditation and formal recognition.
Which universities have been ordered to halt their medical programs?
A total of 10 universities were named, including Times University Multan, NUR International University Lahore, Gomal University D.I. Khan, Sohail University Karachi, University of Faisalabad, and Hazara University Mansehra, among others.
What will happen to the students currently enrolled in these unrecognized programs?
According to the PM&DC, trainees currently enrolled in these unapproved postgraduate programs will face severe consequences. Their enrollment will not be considered valid, and their final qualifications or degrees will not be registered by the council.
What is the penalty for universities violating the PM&DC Act, 2022?
Under Sections 25 and 34 of the Act, institutions are strictly prohibited from launching, advertising, or affiliating with any medical and dental training programs without prior official recognition. Violators are ordered to immediately halt the programs to comply with the law.
