FMGs Demand Fair Licensing Policies, Transparency in NRE, Warn of Peaceful Long March if Grievances Persist
January 16, 2026 | Islamabad Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) have reiterated their serious concerns over recent policies and regulatory changes affecting their professional future, during an important consultative meeting held today in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by prominent representatives of FMGs, including Dr. Rafey Sher, Dr. Tahir Khan Sikandri, Dr. Adnan Orakzai, and Dr. Abdul Rahman Gujjar, who jointly highlighted the challenges faced by thousands of foreign-qualified doctors.
In a joint statement, the FMG leadership emphasized that inconsistent and retrospective policies of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) have resulted in prolonged uncertainty, wastage of valuable time, and professional stagnation for foreign medical graduates.
The meeting discussed several critical demands, including permission for all affected FMGs, particularly graduates from Afghanistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China, and other countries, to appear in the licensing examination despite existing policy barriers. The participants also called for the grant of Provisional Registration Medical Program (PRMP) to those adversely affected by the retrospective implementation of PMDC rules.
FMG representatives stressed the urgent need for transparency in the National Registration Examination (NRE), demanding provision of carbon copies of answer sheets to candidates. They further demanded that internship opportunities be allowed for all FMGs, especially Chinese graduates who had previously fulfilled professional requirements through internship pathways.
The meeting strongly advocated for adoption of a fair and uniform passing criterion of 50 percent, in line with international standards and equivalent to local graduates. Concerns were also raised over the current mandatory station-based assessment system, which, according to FMGs, relies on a limited number of stations and has resulted in disproportionately high failure rates. Additionally, the participants demanded that the NRE be conducted four times a year instead of twice, to prevent unnecessary delays and loss of productive years.
The FMG leadership welcomed PMDC’s recent steps, including the display of individual marks and the clear mention of the month of passing, noting that these measures have helped reduce confusion in result interpretation. However, they stressed that these steps alone are insufficient to address the broader systemic issues.
Speaking on behalf of FMGs, Dr. Rafey Sher, Dr. Tahir Khan Sikandri, Dr. Adnan Orakzai, and Dr. Abdul Rahman Gujjar made it clear that foreign medical graduates prefer to resolve all matters through peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement. At the same time, they warned that if legitimate concerns remain unaddressed, FMGs reserve the right to organize a peaceful long march by young doctors to press for justice.
The meeting concluded on a cautiously optimistic note, particularly in light of a recent engagement between the FMG delegation and PMDC, which took place after a press conference and peaceful protest. FMGs expressed hope that continued dialogue will lead to fair, transparent, and timely resolutions, ensuring dignity, equality, and merit-based assessment for all foreign medical graduates in Pakistan.
Copied From: FMG Licensing Reforms Urged as Doctors Press Demands – Peak Point
