Alumni oppose renaming of Punjab Medical College

Overseas doctors warn change could complicate verification of qualifications

FAISALABAD:

Professionals and alumni associations have opposed the government's decision to rename the Punjab Medical College as Faisalabad Medical College, urging authorities to retain the institution's historic identity as a constituent college of the Faisalabad Medical University (FMU).

In a joint letter addressed to the Punjab governor, the FMU vice chancellor and the principal of Faisalabad Medical College, the Punjab Medical College Alumni Association in North America (PMCAANA) and Punjab Medical College Alumni UK (PMCAUK) called for the reinstatement of the original name.

The letter, signed by PMCAANA President Dr Saadia Alvi and PMCAUK President Dr Shahnaz Akhtar, refers to the Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026.

It states that Section 5(a) inserts a new sub-section into Section 3 of the Faisalabad Medical University Act 2017, reviving the college as a constituent institution but naming it as Faisalabad Medical College.

The alumni associations argued that the institution, established in 1973, had built a strong reputation in Pakistan and abroad under the name Punjab Medical College.

They said the name represented its history, professional identity and legacy.

Dr Amir Sarfraz, a member of PMCAUK, said thousands of graduates were practising in the UK, United States, Middle East and other countries. Their qualifications were registered with professional and academic bodies, including the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), under the name Punjab Medical College.

He warned that changing the name could create confusion and complications in the verification of qualifications, professional registration and credentialing.

He added that retaining the college's original name would not affect the vice chancellor's administrative authority or the university's governance.