News Desk
Lahore: King Edward Medical University (KEMU) has initiated action against 20 Afghan MBBS students, including seven final-year students, following fresh directions from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regarding Afghan nationals enrolled in medical and dental institutions across Pakistan.
According to a KEMU Registrar’s notification dated September 7, 2026, the university has directed the affected students to complete all required formalities through the Office of the Assistant Registrar MBBS within 24 hours.
The notification, bearing No. 1272/REG/KEMU/2026, refers to a PMDC letter dated September 1, 2026, concerning the status of Afghan nationals enrolled in medical and dental institutions.
The KEMU notification lists 22 Afghan nationals associated with the university. Of these, 20 are currently enrolled in the MBBS programme, while two are listed as recently graduated.
The 20 enrolled students include:
1 first-year MBBS student
6 second-year MBBS students
4 third-year MBBS students
1 fourth-year MBBS student
7 final-year MBBS students
The move comes after the PMDC directed medical and dental institutions to facilitate the return of previously enrolled Afghan students to Afghanistan. The council has also barred institutions from granting new admissions, placements, transfers or migrations to Afghan nationals during the current academic session until further orders.
PMDC directive triggers action across Pakistan
The PMDC’s September 1 directive reiterates earlier instructions and requires institutions to complete administrative formalities, including documentation and necessary clearances, for Afghan students.
Reports published on September 8 said KEMU was among the first major public medical universities to act on the directive. The university has given the affected students a 24-hour deadline to complete the required procedures.
The development has sparked concern because several affected students, particularly those in their final year of MBBS, were nearing completion of their medical degrees. The broader PMDC policy currently does not provide a publicly announced exemption for students close to graduation.
The KEMU action follows a nationwide PMDC directive affecting Afghan nationals studying medicine and dentistry in Pakistan. The regulator has instructed institutions to facilitate the departure of existing Afghan students and has stopped new admissions and other forms of academic facilitation for Afghan nationals.
The decision has raised concerns among students and rights advocates, particularly over the academic future of final-year MBBS students who may be forced to leave Pakistan before completing their degrees.
