LAHORE: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has stopped 11 public and private sector medical colleges from admitting students for the 2016-17 session for being critically deficient in faculty and other facilities. The PMDC decision has sent a shockwave among students and the administration of colleges as the admission process is to start in the coming weeks. Four of the 11 colleges are in Punjab, two each in Sindh, Islamabad and Khyber Pukhtunkwha and one from Azad Jammu Kashmir. The PMDC has advised parents and students to confirm the status of medical colleges before seeking admission and advised them to take admission in registered medical colleges only. Sources said medical and dental colleges wherein admission has been banned by PMDC include Muhammad bin Qasim Medical and Dental College Karachi, Mahayy-ud-deen Islamic Medical College Azad Kashmir, Ghulam Muhammad Mehr medical College Sukkar, Amna Anayat Medical College Sheikhupura ,Abbottabad International Medical College, Pak Red Crescent Medical and Dental college Lahore, Hashmat Medical College Gujrat, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences Islamabad, Dental Section Rawal Institute of Health Sciences ,Alrazi Medical College Peshawar and Rehbar Medical and Dental College Lahore. Sources further revealed that medical and dental students that do not have student registration with PM&DC will not be registered as medical / dental practitioners and PM&DC shall not take any responsibility for any adverse effects on the students’ career. PMDC also instructed that all medical and dental institutions are directed to strictly follow the prescribed rules before starting any medical and dental programme as specified by the council. In case of violation, PM&DC shall take penal action as per PM&DC ordinance 1962 source further told. PMDC President Professor Dr. Shabbir Lehri said standards of these colleges were not up to the mark as per minimum criteria of the council and for training students. Some colleges had already been disapproved by ex council and some were denied admission due to lack of facilities after conducting detailed inspection. He added that some colleges were also barred admission on the instructions of the courts.