Pakistan’s medical regulator has stopped recognizing medical and dental degrees issued by higher education institutions in Afghanistan, preventing graduates from obtaining professional licenses and creating uncertainty for hundreds of Pakistani students currently studying medicine across the border.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) said medical and dental qualifications from Afghanistan will no longer be accepted for registration, licensing or professional practice in Pakistan. The decision means graduates from Afghan medical universities will not be eligible to appear in Pakistan’s licensing process required to work as doctors or dentists.
The move directly affects Pakistani students enrolled in medical and dental programs in Afghanistan. According to Dawn newspaper, representatives of Pakistani medical students had previously estimated that more than 1,000 Pakistani students were studying medicine at Afghan institutions.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the PMDC said only Pakistani citizens holding medical or dental degrees from foreign institutions recognized under Pakistan’s approved accreditation system would be allowed to take the required assessment for professional registration.
The council said Afghan medical and dental institutions are currently not included on its list of recognized foreign universities. It warned students already studying in Afghanistan, as well as those planning to enroll there, to consider the consequences of pursuing degrees that may not be accepted in Pakistan.
The PMDC also said requests for exemptions or special approvals would not be considered.
The decision creates significant challenges for Pakistani students who selected Afghan universities because of relatively lower tuition costs and easier admission opportunities compared with some other foreign destinations. Many students and their families now face concerns over whether years of education and financial investment will lead to professional opportunities in Pakistan.
Education experts say recognition of foreign medical degrees depends on factors including institutional accreditation, academic standards, curriculum requirements and regulatory cooperation between countries. They warn that sudden changes in recognition policies can leave students facing financial losses and uncertain career prospects.
The announcement comes amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with security issues remaining a major point of disagreement between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghan authorities of failing to prevent armed groups, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from operating from Afghanistan territory. The Taliban authorities have rejected those allegations.
Despite political tensions, education has remained one of the areas where links between the two countries have continued. Pakistani students have traveled to Afghanistan for medical studies and other professional programs, while Afghan universities have attracted foreign students because of comparatively affordable education costs.
The PMDC decision could also add pressure on Afghanistan’s higher education sector, which has faced growing challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, including reduced international engagement, limited resources and concerns over academic restrictions.
For Pakistani students currently enrolled in Afghan medical universities, the policy change represents a major setback, as completing their degrees may no longer guarantee eligibility to practice medicine in Pakistan.
