ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In what appears to be great a development, the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has eventually increased the quota for students of the erstwhile Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Medical and Dental Collages as per federal cabinet’s decision back in 2017.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Federal Cabinet in its meeting held on March 2, 2017, under the chairmanship of the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had decided that the quota of FATA students in education and health institutions in other provinces should be doubled and retained for a 10-year period after integration with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This step was taken after mass displacement had deprived millions of students of their basic human right of education.
However, due to various delaying tactics, it took almost three years to implement the the long-awaited decision.
A notification a copy of which is available with this scribe signed by the President PMC Dr Arshad Taqi addressed to Vice Chancellor Khyber Medical University (KMU) Professor Dr Arshad Javaid, reads, “This is with reference to your application dated 13th December 2019 on the subject providing a proposed beak-down of the additional seats in the public colleagues affiliated with KMU for purposes of accommodating the additional 136 seats under the FATA Quota.”
The letter reads, “Having reviewed the same, one time approval is hereby granted for the following additional seats over and above the allocated strength of the named colleges for 2020 season.”
According to the notification, a total of 120 for MBBS seats have been increased of which 50 seats would be in Khyber Girls Medical College; Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences 10; Bannu Medical College 10; Gomal Medical College 15; Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan 05; Nowshera Medical Complex 10;Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi 10 and Saidu Medical College, Swat would have to accommodate 10 students.
Similarly, a total of 16 seats have been increased for BDS of which five would be in Khyber College of Dentistry; three in Ayub Dental Section, three in Bacha Khan Dental Section and five seats would be allocated for FATA medical students in Kohat Institute of Dental Sciences.
The notification reads, “In respect of the increase in 50 seats in Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, the increase sought is approved in view of the fact that the said college secured an A+ rating in the 2019 national inspection and therefore, the permission shall be subject to the Khyber Girls Medical College applying to the Commission and the Higher Education Department (HEC) for enhancement of its allocated seats by 50 seats within three months hereof and obtaining such enchantment post due inspection.”
