Islamabad, May 2, 2025: The Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) has expressed significant concerns regarding the newly imposed fee ceiling announced by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
PAMI argues that the current restrictions could jeopardize the survival of the private education sector. As per the latest PMDC notice, the annual fee limit for medical and dental colleges has been set at Rs. 1.8 million, with a permissible 5% increase for the 2025 academic session.
However, PAMI has rejected the fee cap, describing it as an untimely and impractical decision.
In a statement, PAMI Secretary General Dr. Riaz Janjua pointed out that private institutions had already declared and collected fees—often exceeding the newly imposed cap—well in advance of the admission cycle, in accordance with Section 20(7) of the PMDC Act 2022.
Dr. Janjua emphasized that these regulations could not be applied retrospectively, meaning that fees that have already been collected should neither be refunded nor adjusted.
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Dr. Janjua also referenced a meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, in which it was reportedly agreed that colleges charging between Rs. 1.8 million and Rs. 2.5 million would be required to provide financial justifications to the PMDC.
Furthermore, a fee review committee consisting of PMDC and PAMI members was supposed to be formed to assess audit reports. However, this committee has yet to be officially established.
In response to the new restrictions, PAMI has proposed that all fees up to Rs. 2.6 million should be exempt from review and has called for an increase in the upper fee limit to at least Rs. 3.2 million.
