QUETTA: The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has approved registration of three new medical colleges of Balochistan which were operational from 2018 without registration.

These institutions — the Loralai Medical College, Jhalawan Medical College and Makran Medical College — were established by the previous provincial governments of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and National Party headed by former chief ministers Dr Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri with coalition partners Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

Over 600 male and female students were studying in these three medical colleges, but because required formalities were not completed the PMC had not approved their registration during the past four years.

Official sources said here on Tuesday that after completion of formalities and provision of required equipment and other facilities to these colleges and teaching hospitals the officials of the PMC visited them and recommended their registration.

“The council of PMC has approved the registration of all the three medical colleges of Balochistan,” the Balochistan’s health department officials said, adding that the PMC council gave the approval in its meeting held in Islamabad.

They said the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and the Pakistan Army played a positive role in the approval of the registration of these institutions.

They said with the registration of these colleges students of far-flung areas of Balochistan would be able to obtain higher medical education which would help in overcoming the shortage of doctors in the province.

The Balochistan health secretary thanked the PMC president for taking personal interest in registration of the three medical colleges.

The provincial government also thanked the Pakistan Army and the PMC for their cooperation in the approval of the registration of these institutions.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2021