--- title: "PMDC clarifies rules for foreign medical students including Afghans" description: "Most outlets reported that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) reaffirmed that there are no nationality-based restrictions for foreign students seeking medical education in Pakistan, with a focus on the ongoing review of over 170 to 200 Afghan students. Geo News and Daily Times specifically highlighted the clarification regarding Afghan students, while BOL News and 24 News HD emphasized the rules-based system and the number of affected students. Minute Mirror and Pakistan Observer provided more general statements about the PMDC’s position without specifying the nationality or number of students involved." url: https://harzaviya.com/stories/7329-pmdc-instructs-medical-dental-colleges-not-to-admit-afghan site: HarZaviya language: en --- # PMDC clarifies rules for foreign medical students including Afghans pakistan · updated 10 Sep 2026, 10:04 PM PKT · 8–10 Sep 2026 · 13 articles from 10 outlets over 3 developments ## How it developed Newest development first. Each carries its own coverage and, where we have one, our summary of it. ### 10 Sep 2026 — PMDC clarifies rules for foreign medical students including Afghans (6 outlets) > Most outlets reported that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) reaffirmed that there are no nationality-based restrictions for foreign students seeking medical education in Pakistan, with a focus on the ongoing review of over 170 to 200 Afghan students. Geo News and Daily Times specifically highlighted the clarification regarding Afghan students, while BOL News and 24 News HD emphasized the rules-based system and the number of affected students. Minute Mirror and Pakistan Observer provided more general statements about the PMDC’s position without specifying the nationality or number of students involved. - **Daily Times** — [PMDC says no nationality-based ban on medical education](https://dailytimes.com.pk/1551035/pmdc-says-no-nationality-based-ban-on-medical-education/) · 10 Sep 2026, 10:04 PM PKT > The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has clarified that Pakistan has no ban on Afghan students. The council said no specific nationality faces restrictions on medical education in Pakistan. It added that Pakistani laws and visa policies apply equally to all foreign students. The clarification came through an official statement regarding Afghan medical students. PMDC […] - **Pakistan Observer** — [PM&DC Clarifies Position on Afghan Medical Students](https://pakobserver.net/pmdc-clarifies-position-on-afghan-medical-students/) · 10 Sep 2026, 7:36 PM PKT · 87% identical wording to the newest filing > The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) said on Thursday that foreign nationals were not barred from pursuing medical education… - **BOL News** — [PMDC reviews status of more than 200 Afghan medical students](https://bolnews.com/health/pmdc-reviews-status-of-more-than-200-afghan-medical-students) · 10 Sep 2026, 7:36 PM PKT · 83% identical wording to the newest filing > PMDC states there are no nationality restrictions for foreign students seeking medical education in Pakistan, impacting over 200 Afghan students. - **Geo News** — [PMDC says no nationality-based ban on medical education, defends Afghan students review](https://www.geo.tv/latest/681494-pmdc-says-no-nationality-based-ban-on-medical-education-defends-afghan-students-review) · 10 Sep 2026, 5:32 PM PKT · 83% identical wording to the newest filing > Afghan citizens attend English class near Islamabad, Pakistan, January 22, 2025. — Reuters176 Afghan students' verification process still underway.Unregistered students can't be treated as lawfully enrolled: PM&DC.Affected students being facilitated in humane manner: council. - **24 News HD** — [PMDC maintains rules-based system for foreign medical students](https://www.24newshd.tv/10-Sep-2026/pmdc-maintains-rules-based-system-foreign-medical-students) · 10 Sep 2026, 4:17 PM PKT · 78% identical wording to the newest filing > The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced to maintain a rules-based system on the issue of foreign students seeking quality medical education in Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday. - **Minute Mirror** — [PM&DC reaffirms rules for foreign medical stu...](https://minutemirror.com.pk/pmdc-reaffirms-rules-for-foreign-medical-students-627823/) · 10 Sep 2026, 3:02 PM PKT · 75% identical wording to the newest filing > The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has reiterated that Pakistan continues to welcome foreign nationals seeking quality ### 9 Sep 2026 — PMDC orders Afghan medical students to return home (3 outlets) > Most outlets reported the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's directive for enrolled Afghan students to return to Afghanistan, with the Daily Times emphasizing the move amid "strained ties." Hum News English highlighted growing calls for the PMDC to reconsider the decision and noted criticism from civil society. Both excerpts framed the directive as a formal order, but Hum News English gave more weight to the public response. - **ARY News (English)** — [PMDC bans admission of Afghan students to medical, dental colleges](https://arynews.tv/pmdc-bans-admission-of-afghan-students-to-medical-dental-colleges) · 9 Sep 2026, 3:07 PM PKT > Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has barred the admission, placement and transfer of Afghan nationals to medical and dental colleges - **Hum News English** — [Calls grow for PMDC to reconsider decision on Afghan medical students](https://humenglish.com/latest/calls-grow-for-pmdc-to-reconsider-decision-on-afghan-medical-students/) · 9 Sep 2026, 12:07 PM PKT · 73% identical wording to the newest filing > ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has directed Afghan medical and dental students already enrolled in institutions in Pakistan to return to Afghanistan, prompting criticism from civil society and rights organisation. The PMDC has ordered medical colleges to complete the necessary administrative formalities for the students’ return and directed relevant authorities to iss... - **Daily Times** — [PMDC orders Afghan students to return home amid strained ties](https://dailytimes.com.pk/1550140/pmdc-orders-afghan-students-to-return-home-amid-strained-ties/) · 9 Sep 2026, 7:34 AM PKT · 78% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan’s medical regulator has ordered Afghan students enrolled in medical and dental colleges across the country to return to their home country and barred institutions from admitting new Afghan students, according to an official directive seen by Arab News on Tuesday, amid deteriorating relations between the two neighbors. The Sept. 1 letter from the Pakistan […] ### 8 Sep 2026 — Pakistan medical regulator bars Afghan students from current academic session (3 outlets) > Most outlets led with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) directive prohibiting Afghan students from being admitted or placed in medical and dental colleges for the current academic session. Arab News Pakistan added context about strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, while Dawn and Minute Mirror focused more narrowly on the administrative instructions given to institutions. - **Dawn** — [PMDC instructs medical, dental colleges not to admit Afghan students for 'current academic session’'](https://www.dawn.com/news/2028391/pmdc-instructs-medical-dental-colleges-not-to-admit-afghan-students-for-current-academic-session) · 8 Sep 2026, 10:54 PM PKT > ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has barred medical and dental colleges from granting admission or placement to Afghan students for the current academic session, and students previously enrolled in such programmes are “required to return to Afghanistan”, Dawn has learnt. The policy decision was conveyed by the council to public and private medical institutions across th... - **Minute Mirror** — [PMDC directs medical colleges to send Afghan stude...](https://minutemirror.com.pk/pmdc-directs-medical-colleges-to-send-afghan-students-back-home-627012/) · 8 Sep 2026, 10:31 PM PKT · 86% identical wording to the newest filing > The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued new directives concerning Afghan medical students in Pakistan, instructing medical and dental institutions to complete administrative procedures related to their return to Afghanistan. - **Arab News Pakistan** — [Pakistan medical regulator orders Afghan students to return home amid strained ties](https://www.arabnews.pk/pakistan/pakistan-medical-regulator-orders-afghan-students-to-return-home-amid-strained-ties-3000587) · 8 Sep 2026, 9:44 AM PKT · 71% identical wording to the newest filing ## Part of a bigger story Other stories whose coverage resembles this one, nearest first. "% related" compares whole stories, not single articles — see [what the percentages mean](https://harzaviya.com/methodology). - [PMDC warns Pakistani students about medical education in Afghanistan](https://harzaviya.com/stories/1742-pmdc-issues-advisory-for-pakistani-medical-students) · 4 Aug 2026 · 2 outlets · 90% related - [Lahore High Court halts expulsion of Afghan medical students](https://harzaviya.com/stories/7727-13-afghan-medical-students-challenge-pmdc-order-of-their) · 12 Sep 2026 · 16 outlets · 2 developments · 84% related - [PMDC removes MDCAT requirement for Pakistani students applying to foreign medical colleges](https://harzaviya.com/stories/12459-pmdc-removes-mdcat-requirement-for-admission-to-foreign) · 6 Oct 2026 · 10 outlets · 84% related - [PMDC grants Palestinian medical students clinical training in Pakistan](https://harzaviya.com/stories/6521-palestinian-students-permission-limited-to-undergraduate) · 4 Sep 2026 · 3 outlets · 82% related - [LHC extends suspension of PMDC directive for Afghan medical students' return](https://harzaviya.com/stories/9223-lhc-extends-stay-on-pmdc-order-against-afghan-stud) · 19 Sep 2026 · 4 outlets · 79% related 13 articles from 10 outlets, 8–10 Sep 2026. 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