LAHORE: The Punjab government appears reluctant to expand the number of seats reserved for children of overseas Pakistanis in public sector medical and dental colleges. Currently, only 66 seats are set aside across 20 government colleges, constituting less than two percent of total admissions.
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In April, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced a 15 percent quota for overseas Pakistanis in medical colleges nationwide, allowing more than 3,000 students to pursue medical studies. The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) confirmed implementation of this directive and notified relevant stakeholders in September.
However, the Punjab government’s new 2025-26 admission policy did not reflect the PM’s announcement. It also introduced an annual fee of US $10,000 for overseas Pakistani students in state-run colleges, ending the previous scheme of free education for these students.
Officials from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore clarified that the 15 percent quota announced by the PM was intended for private medical colleges, where fees are significantly higher. Private colleges reportedly convert unfilled reserved seats to open merit, as many overseas students hesitate to apply due to the Rs2.5 million annual tuition.
Overseas Pakistani parents and students, however, contend that the PMDC notification applies to both public and private sector institutions. They argue that the government should increase the reserved seats in state-run colleges from two percent to 15 percent, potentially raising the seats from 66 to 500.
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The UHS official explained that state-run medical institutions face challenges in maintaining quality education, which limits their capacity to accommodate more overseas students. Overseas Pakistanis, meanwhile, have expressed disappointment and urged the authorities to honour the Prime Minister’s original directive.
The issue highlights the tension between policy announcements at the federal level and implementation at the provincial level, leaving overseas Pakistani students uncertain about their educational opportunities in Punjab’s public sector medical colleges.