Overseas doctors and alumni associations have opposed the Punjab government’s decision to rename Punjab Medical College as Faisalabad Medical College, urging authorities to preserve the institution’s historic identity and avoid potential complications for thousands of graduates working in Pakistan and abroad.
In a joint letter addressed to the Punjab governor, the vice chancellor of Faisalabad Medical University (FMU) and the college principal, the Punjab Medical College Alumni Association in North America (PMCAANA) and Punjab Medical College Alumni UK (PMCAUK) called for the restoration of the original name.
The associations argued that the institution, established in 1973, had developed a strong academic and professional reputation under the name Punjab Medical College. They said the name represented more than five decades of institutional history and remained closely associated with the professional identities of its graduates.
Alumni Associations Raise Concerns Over Medical Degrees
The joint letter was signed by PMCAANA President Dr Saadia Alvi and PMCAUK President Dr Shahnaz Akhtar.
The alumni groups maintained that retaining the Punjab Medical College name would protect the institution’s historical recognition without affecting the administrative authority of Faisalabad Medical University’s vice chancellor or the university’s governance structure.
Dr Amir Sarfraz, a member of PMCAUK, said thousands of graduates were practising in the United Kingdom, United States, Middle East and other countries.
He explained that their qualifications and professional records were associated with the Punjab Medical College name in international academic and regulatory systems, including those of the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
According to Sarfraz, changing the institution’s name could create confusion during qualification verification, professional registration and employment credential checks.
The alumni associations have therefore urged the authorities to retain the original institutional name while continuing to recognise the college as a constituent institution of Faisalabad Medical University.
What Does the 2026 Medical Universities Ordinance Say?
The dispute relates to the Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026, which introduced changes to the legal and administrative framework governing public-sector medical universities in Punjab.
According to the alumni associations, Section 5(a) inserts a new provision into Section 3 of the Faisalabad Medical University Act 2017, restoring the college’s status as a constituent institution under the name Faisalabad Medical College.
The original Faisalabad Medical University Act 2017 provides the legal framework for the university’s establishment, powers and governance.
The ordinance also addresses the administrative powers of vice chancellors over universities, constituent colleges and teaching hospitals.
According to a report published by Dawn on October 28, the ordinance was promulgated by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan on October 20 and published in an extraordinary issue of the Punjab Gazette.
The Dawn report on the 2026 ordinance provides additional context about the legislative changes and the restoration of constituent-college arrangements.
Punjab Medical College’s Historic Identity
Punjab Medical College was established in 1973 and became an important public-sector medical education institution in Faisalabad.
Its graduates have pursued medical careers across Pakistan and international healthcare systems, building professional networks in several countries.
The institution’s historical name also remains visible in Pakistan’s medical regulatory records. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) lists Punjab Medical College in Faisalabad among recognised public medical colleges.
The regulator’s directory identifies the institution’s location and allocated medical seats, providing an official reference for its existing institutional identity.
This is particularly relevant for graduates whose degrees, transcripts and professional records carry the Punjab Medical College name.
Alumni Seek Government Intervention
The alumni associations have asked the Punjab governor, university administration and college leadership to reconsider the naming decision.
They maintain that preserving Punjab Medical College’s historic identity would not undermine the university’s administrative authority or affect its governance arrangements.
Their concerns centre on maintaining consistency in academic documentation and preventing unnecessary difficulties for graduates dealing with international medical regulators and employers.
The authorities have yet to publicly announce a decision on the alumni associations’ request.
The outcome could have implications for the institution’s historical identity, current students and thousands of former graduates whose academic and professional records are associated with the Punjab Medical College name.
