KEMU moves against Afghan medical students following PMDC directives

Lahore’s King Edward Medical University (KEMU) is one of the first public universities to act on fresh directives issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) — a significant regulatory decision affecting Afghan medical students enrolled in medical and dental institutions in Pakistan.

The move requires Afghan medical and dental students currently studying in Pakistan to complete official formalities for their return to Afghanistan while also suspending future admissions, transfers and migration involving Afghan nationals.

The development marks a major shift in the country's policy governing foreign medical students and is expected to have far-reaching implications for academic institutions and the affected students alike.

Acting on PMDC instructions issued on September 1, KEMU has directed 20 Afghan MBBS students to report to the assistant registrar (MBBS Office) within 24 hours to complete all legal and administrative requirements.

University records show that a total of 22 Afghan nationals are associated with the institution, including 20 students currently enrolled in the MBBS programme and two who recently completed graduation. Among those affected are seven final-year students who were approaching the completion of their medical education.

"The university has begun processing the documentation required under the PMDC directive including the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs), verification of academic records, immigration related paperwork, and other institutional clearances necessary before students leave Pakistan.

“The administration has instructed students to remain in contact with it to ensure that all mandatory procedures are completed within the prescribed timeframe,” said a Kemu official. The PMDC's directive extends beyond Kemu and is understood to apply to all recognised medical and dental colleges in Pakistan.

Alongside the repatriation process for existing Afghan students, the regulator has imposed an immediate suspension on new admissions, student transfers and migration applications involving Afghan nationals until further notice.

Medical institutions have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the regulatory order while coordinating with relevant government authorities wherever required. The decision is expected to have its greatest impact on students nearing graduation, particularly those in the final year of MBBS.

Medical education experts note that interruptions during the clinical phase of medical training can present significant academic challenges.

Universities are therefore processing transcripts, examination records and other academic documents to facilitate the transfer or continuation of studies wherever possible under the applicable regulations.

On the other hand, hostel administrations have also initiated standard exit procedures for affected students residing on campus.

According to university sources, students will be required to complete hostel clearance, return university-issued property, settle outstanding accommodation and mess charges, obtain library and laboratory clearances and vacate their rooms after completing institutional formalities.

Their hostel residency will remain subject to their legal status and continued eligibility under university regulations during the transition period.

Officials familiar with the process say the implementation is being carried out as an administrative and regulatory exercise rather than an academic disciplinary action. Universities have been instructed to maintain complete records of each student's academic progress and ensure that all documentation is processed in accordance with PMDC requirements and other applicable government regulations.

Amnesty calls PMDC decision discriminatory

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has criticised the PMDC decision, calling it “patently discriminatory and arbitrary” and urging the authorities to adopt a humane and practical solution that would allow Afghan students, including women and girls, to complete their education.

According to a statement issued by Amnesty’s South Asia office on X, the consequences of the decision were particularly severe for female students, many of whom had already been denied access to higher education in Afghanistan amid the Taliban’s ongoing gender persecution.

“They now face the prospect of losing one of the few remaining pathways to pursue their education and profession,” the statement said.

Many of the students had devoted years to studying medicine, only to see their education brought to an abrupt and unjustifiable end, with little prospect of being able to resume their studies elsewhere, it added.

Amnesty International said Pakistan had obligations under international human rights law to uphold the right to education without discrimination based on national origin.

It urged the authorities to adopt a humane and practical solution that would allow Afghan students, including women and girls, to complete their education

The latest policy has also drawn attention to the broader principle of reciprocity that often shapes educational cooperation between countries.

International student exchanges, admissions and recognition of professional qualifications are commonly governed by bilateral arrangements and reciprocal regulatory frameworks.

Education analysts believe that future opportunities for Afghan students seeking medical education in Pakistan may depend on any revised agreements reached between the two neighbouring countries regarding academic cooperation and professional accreditation.

For now, the implementation at KEMU represents one of the earliest visible steps in enforcing the PMDC's September 1 directive. As other medical and dental institutions across Pakistan begin complying with the regulator's instructions, the decision is expected to affect Afghan students nationwide.

It may bring an end to current enrolment pathways while reshaping the future framework for cross-border medical education between Pakistan and Afghanistan.