Bilawal vows to fight alleged poll rigging in AJK

Islamabad: A major debate has erupted over medical college seat expansion in Pakistan after the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) announced new seat enhancements for private medical colleges, while hundreds of existing private sector seats remain vacant due to the high cost of medical education. During a meeting of the Sub Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the PMDC President informed lawmakers that seat enhancement approval has so far been granted to 19 private medical colleges. However, the exact number of additional seats approved for these 19 private medical colleges has not yet been disclosed. The announcement came as the committee was already discussing the serious shortage of affordable medical education opportunities for students who want to become doctors. PMDC officials also informed the committee that the government has increased public sector medical college seats by 780 additional seats, creating more opportunities for students seeking admission in public institutions. The committee was told that the increase in seats was part of efforts to expand medical education opportunities and address the growing student demand. At the same time, officials highlighted a major contradiction in the current system. While authorities are increasing the number of medical seats, hundreds of private medical college seats remain empty because many students cannot afford the fees. PMDC officials also informed the committee that hundreds of private medical college seats remained vacant this year because many students were unable to afford the high fee structure of private institutions. They stated the main reason was the high fee structure of private medical colleges, where many students could not afford fees ranging from Rs18 lakh to Rs25 lakh annually. Senator Anusha Rahman questioned why qualified students were unable to enter medical colleges when seats were available. She asked officials whether any seats in public medical colleges were vacant. PMDC officials replied that public medical college seats were completely filled. The senator questioned the situation, saying that thousands of students who had successfully passed MDCAT were still unable to become doctors because of limited seats and financial problems. She pointed out that around 70,000 to 75,000 students who cleared the admission test were left without medical college opportunities. The committee questioned whether enough steps were being taken to protect these students’ futures. During the discussion, Officials suggested a large scale expansion plan and proposed adding 10,000 more medical seats in the Medical sector through government supported loans and scholarship programmes. Senator Shahzaib Durrani said such an initiative could help thousands of students and would require around Rs15 billion annually, which he described as a manageable amount for the government. The committee also discussed whether increasing seats could affect the quality of medical education. PMDC officials explained that medical education requires proper clinical training facilities, including hospitals and patient exposure. Officials said there are specific requirements for increasing medical seats because colleges must have enough hospital beds for students. According to PMDC standards, colleges with 100 students require around 500 hospital beds, while institutions with 200 students need around 750 beds and colleges with 300 students require around 1,000 beds. A PMDC member said medical education cannot be expanded without improving clinical facilities because doctors need practical training, not only classroom education. However, Senator Anusha Rahman argued that increasing seats could encourage institutions to expand their healthcare facilities. She said medical graduates are also a national resource and many Pakistani doctors contribute internationally. The senator directed PMDC to prepare recommendations explaining why private medical college seats remained vacant and what should be done for thousands of qualified students who are unable to secure admission.

  Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Raja Nasir Abbas, has said that the government is legally bound to implement the Supreme Court’s decision and expressed hope that the ruling would be implemented today. Speaking during a Senate session, Raja Nasir Abbas said that the Supreme Court’s decision had created a positive atmosphere and provided an opportunity for political forces to move closer to one another. He noted that there had been signs of improvement in the political environment following the court’s ruling. According to the opposition leader, the government is obligated to respect and implement decisions issued by the country’s highest court. He said that the opposition expected the government to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision without further delay. Raja Nasir Abbas emphasized that implementation of the court’s ruling could help maintain a positive political atmosphere. He said that after the Supreme Court decision, the situation appeared to be improving and political sides were gradually coming closer together. He suggested that developments could lead to greater political understanding if the government continued to act responsibly. During his speech, the opposition leader also raised concerns about the health and treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and physician Dr Yasmin Rashid, who is currently being held at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Raja Nasir Abbas said that it was the government’s responsibility to protect the health and well-being of people in its custody. He highlighted Yasmin Rashid’s medical condition and expressed concern about the circumstances in which she was being held. According to Abbas, Dr Yasmin Rashid is a cancer patient and has also continued to provide medical assistance to other people even while in prison. He said that despite facing serious health challenges herself, she had remained committed to helping others. The opposition leader further stated that doctors had raised concerns about a problem involving Yasmin Rashid’s spinal vertebrae. He said medical professionals had warned that her condition could become serious and that she might even lose the ability to walk. Abbas argued that, given her medical condition, Yasmin Rashid should not be kept in prison. He called on the government to take medical advice seriously and ensure that prisoners suffering from serious illnesses receive appropriate healthcare. He also expressed concern about conditions inside the prison, particularly the availability of electricity. According to him, there are periods of four hours or more during which electricity is unavailable in the jail. He suggested that such conditions could further worsen the difficulties faced by prisoners, particularly those with serious medical conditions. The opposition leader’s remarks come amid broader political discussions over the treatment of political prisoners and the implementation of judicial decisions. His statement reflects the opposition’s expectation that the government should follow court orders while also ensuring that prisoners receive adequate medical care. Raja Nasir Abbas maintained that respecting judicial decisions and protecting prisoners’ health were both important responsibilities of the state. He urged the government to take immediate steps to address the concerns raised regarding Yasmin Rashid and to ensure that her medical needs are properly addressed. He also expressed optimism that the Supreme Court’s decision could help create a more constructive political environment. According to him, cooperation and implementation of the court’s ruling could contribute to reducing political tensions and improving relations between the government and opposition. The opposition leader concluded by emphasizing the importance of the government fulfilling its legal responsibilities and protecting the health and dignity of individuals in its custody.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced sit-ins outside the chief minister’s residence in Lahore and governors’ houses across the country from August 16, protesting rising petroleum prices and the growing cost of living. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Rehman said the Lahore demonstration would begin at 3pm from Masjid-e-Shuhada and move towards the Chief Minister’s House. He said the protests would continue until the government addressed the party’s demands, including immediate reductions in fuel, electricity and essential commodity prices. Rehman accused the government of collecting Rs1,567 billion through petroleum levies, claiming the amount had exceeded the target set under the International Monetary Fund programme. He said JI would not remain silent while ordinary citizens faced increasing economic pressure. The JI chief warned that any attempt to obstruct the demonstrations could escalate the campaign into a broader movement demanding the government’s removal. He maintained that the party’s previous sit-ins had been peaceful and caused no damage to public or private property. JI has also launched a social media campaign against the petroleum levy, urging citizens to raise their voices against what is described as an unfair financial burden on the public.