Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given the approval of admission policy for public and private medical and dental colleges of Punjab.
In the special meeting on health chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz passing MDCAT exam has been declared mandatory for admission to government medical colleges. The meeting took a number of important decisions related to the health department.
The meeting decided to fix $10,000 fee in MDCAT for children of overseas Pakistanis. The meeting also decided that once the name appears in the private medical college list, the candidate will have to deposit one-third of the fee at the University of Health Sciences.
After the final merit list of private medical and dental colleges is released, UHS will transfer one-third of the collected fee to the concerned college and the students seeking admission will deposit the remaining fee at the concerned private medical and dental college after the final merit list is released, the meeting decided. The meeting agreed on mutual proposal of compulsory service after postgraduate training in private hospitals. As per the demand of the specialist, the trainee doctor will be sent for specialization in the relevant field of private medical colleges.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressing happiness over the first successful angioplasty in Sahiwal welcomed the start of surgery at the Sahiwal Cardiac Center. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed Mayo Hospital to devise foolproof and transparent methods for treating patients at the Ablation Center.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to provide relief to cancer patients in every case. The meeting also agreed on the proposal to build medical blocks in government universities instead of building a separate building for a new medical college in Punjab.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also approved the board of management of various institutions in Punjab. Maryam Nawaz said in every hospital in Punjab, poor patients should get treatment facilities without spending a penny.
Separately, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif warmly welcomed and held a meeting with Ireland’s first Resident Ambassador to Pakistan Mary O’Neill to discuss matters relating to strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Ireland. She also discussed in details on improving bilateral trade opportunities, besides enhancing climate cooperation, education and IT ties and people-to-people connections.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif invited Ireland to invest in Punjab, and assured Irish investors full facilitation and support of the provincial government. She emphasized that Ireland is a symbol of principle-based governance and progressive values, terming establishment of Ireland’s first embassy in Islamabad a “historic milestone” in bilateral ties.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif while delineating her views on trade prospects pointed out that current bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Ireland stands at USD 213 million which manifests a significant scope for growth. She noted that Punjab offers great opportunities in various sectors such as agricultural development, dairy farming, livestock, information technology and renewable energy.
On the cultural and people-to-people front, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif appreciated recent T20 cricket series held in Dublin in 2024 and the scheduled tour of Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team to Ireland in 2025, terming them important steps in deepening bilateral ties between the two countries.
She added, “Punjab does not see Ireland as just a diplomatic partner, but as a friend.” She opined that Pakistan-Ireland relations would continue to grow stronger in diplomacy, trade, education, culture and people-to-people engagement. She also acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of Pakistani community residing in Ireland, especially in the health and other key sectors.