333 MBBS and BDS Seats for Balochistan and FATA Declared as One-Time Approval
Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: The Ministry of National Health Services clarified that the 333 additional MBBS and BDS seats for students from Balochistan and erstwhile FATA under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme were approved only as a one-time arrangement for the academic session; no such extra allocation or increase has been granted for the next session. The disclosure has raised serious questions about quota implementation, merit protection, institutional authority and the future of medical admissions for deserving students from underdeveloped regions.The matter surfaced during the Senate question answer session when Senator Jan Muhammad asked whether 333 MBBS and BDS seats had been reserved on merit for students from Balochistan and erstwhile FATA under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme, and whether the University of Health Sciences Lahore had finalized admissions and allocated 76 seats without the HEC issuing an official placement or merit list.In response, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal explained that the Higher Education Commission had initially requested additional medical and dental seats for students from Balochistan and erstwhile FATA. However, the regulatory position remained that quotas and special seats must be accommodated within the approved intake of medical and dental institutions unless a specific exception is granted.The reply revealed that the issue has been disputed for years, with HEC repeatedly seeking additional seats over and above already approved institutional capacity, while the medical regulator maintained that such seats must normally remain within the approved maximum intake of each institution.The government stated that, following court proceedings, 194 students were earlier accommodated above the approved strength by creating additional seats. Later, HEC again requested additional seats for subsequent sessions, and the regulator approved them only as a one time exception.The most significant decision came when the council approved a one time allocation of 333 additional seats in medical and dental colleges nationwide for students of Balochistan and erstwhile FATA. The approval was subject to the condition that institutions must enhance their infrastructure and teaching capacity in future.The reply further stated that HEC later requested that the allocated seats be increased to 500. However, after reconsideration and recommendations from the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, the council granted one time approval of 333 seats, divided equally between Balochistan and erstwhile FATA, over and above the allocated strength for the relevant academic session only.The government made it clear that no allocation, approval or increase of additional seats has been granted for the next academic session. From the next academic year, provincial health departments and regions will be required to allocate seats strictly within approved institutional seat capacities in line with PM&DC admission regulations.The reply also cited the PM&DC admission rules, which require that all categories of seats, including special quota seats, must respect the fundamental principle of merit. The rules state that no category can be created to admit a student who has not qualified MDCAT or who is admitted in violation of merit under the Constitution.The regulations also require that final admission criteria, including all quota categories, must be publicly announced by the prescribed deadline, and public scholarship or funded programmes must obtain seat allocation from the relevant government or authority before admissions are processed.The controversy around whether UHS Lahore allocated 76 seats without HEC’s official placement or merit list has placed fresh focus on the need for transparent placement, public merit lists and clear authority in quota based admissions. The government’s reply indicates that future admissions must follow the approved institutional capacity and PM&DC admission framework.The written reply was submitted by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal in response to Senator Jan Muhammad’s question during the Senate question answer session.
Read in Urdu: بلوچستان اور سابق فاٹا کے لیے ۳۳۳ طبی نشستوں کی ایک وقتی منظوری
Copied From: 333 MBBS, BDS seats for Balochistan and FATA approved for one session only
