PSCA reunites missing child with family after three months

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.

  Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is attempting to secure power in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) through electoral manipulation rather than the democratic process Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Memon strongly criticized the ruling party’s political approach and accused its leadership of relying on what he described as “backdoor” methods to gain power. He claimed that the PML-N was now trying to repeat the same strategy in Azad Kashmir ahead of the upcoming political developments in the region. “The Pakistan Muslim League-N wants to come to power in Azad Kashmir through rigging,” Memon said while addressing journalists. He argued that free and fair elections are essential for maintaining public trust in democratic institutions and urged all stakeholders to ensure transparency in the electoral process. During the press conference, Memon also took aim at former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He alleged that Nawaz Sharif had himself entered power through what he called the “backdoor,” adding that Maryam Nawaz had followed the same path. Referring to one of her recent public remarks, Memon criticized her statement asking, “When will the Day of Judgment come?” He said such expressions should not be used by political leaders, arguing that they were inappropriate in public discourse. The Sindh minister emphasized that politicians should exercise caution in their choice of words and avoid making statements that could create unnecessary controversy or distract from issues affecting the public. He said political leaders have a responsibility to maintain respectful and constructive dialogue, particularly during periods of heightened political activity. Memon also spoke about the challenges facing Karachi, describing the country’s largest city as unique in both its size and complexity. “Karachi has many challenges because Karachi is not just a city—it is like a country,” he remarked. He said the metropolis faces a wide range of issues, including infrastructure demands, traffic congestion, rapid population growth, and the need for improved public services. According to Memon, the Sindh government continues to work on addressing these longstanding challenges through development projects and administrative reforms. He stressed that managing Karachi requires coordinated efforts from both provincial and federal institutions due to the city’s economic significance and its role as Pakistan’s commercial hub. The press conference primarily focused on the current political environment, electoral transparency, and governance issues. Memon reiterated that democratic values must be upheld and that any attempt to influence election outcomes unfairly would undermine public confidence in the political system. His remarks come amid increasing political activity across the country, with parties positioning themselves ahead of future elections and regional political contests. The statements are expected to draw responses from the Pakistan Muslim League-N, which has previously rejected similar allegations and maintained that it believes in democratic and constitutional processes. The comments made by Sharjeel Memon add to the ongoing political debate in Pakistan, where electoral integrity, governance, and accountability continue to dominate public discussion. As political tensions persist, attention remains focused on ensuring transparent elections and promoting constructive political dialogue across the country.