PMDC orders Afghan medical students enrolled in Pakistani colleges to return home

Pakistan’s medical regulator has directed Afghan students enrolled in medical and dental colleges across the country to return to Afghanistan, barring institutions from admitting, transferring or otherwise facilitating Afghan nationals.

As per the details, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) issued the directive in a Sept 1 letter to medical and dental institutions, reiterating instructions first communicated on July 31.

“Afghan nationals previously enrolled in medical or dental programs in Pakistan are required to return to Afghanistan,” the PMDC said, instructing institutions to complete the necessary administrative formalities, including issuing no-objection certificates and facilitating the students’ departure.

The orders also prohibit new admissions, placements, transfers, migrations or other forms of facilitation for Afghan nationals during the current academic session until further orders.

While the PMDC described the matter as relating to “national policy directives”, it was followed by internal notifications issued by major medical institutions, including the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) in Lahore.

KEMU listed 22 Afghan nationals affected by the directive, of which 20 are currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, while two have recently graduated.

The enrolled students are from the second, third, fourth and final years of the MBBS programme, and six of the 20 current students are in their final year.

The Sept 7 KEMU notification refers to the PMDC’s Sept 1 letter and directs the affected individuals to complete the required formalities through the Assistant Registrar MBBS office within 24 hours.

The decision comes as Pakistan expands its campaign to repatriate Afghan nationals. More than 2.6 million Afghans returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan between September 2023 and July 31, 2026.

The action against Afghan nationals comes amid souring ties between Islamabad and Kabul over the Taliban regime’s support for terror outfits using Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan.