PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday declared null and void a notification issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) that delisted foreign medical graduates and upheld the validity of degrees obtained by students from Afghanistan and other universities.
The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Faheem Wali. The petitioners were represented by Advocate Fawadur Rehman.
During the hearing, the counsel argued that the petitioners had completed their medical education at a time when Afghan universities were duly affiliated with the PMDC and their degrees were officially recognised. However, a notification issued on September 8, 2025, later delisted these institutions, preventing graduates from appearing in the National Registration Examination (NRE) required for obtaining provisional registration (PRMP) to practice medicine in Pakistan.
In its written judgment, the court held that applying an administrative decision retrospectively was against the principles of natural justice, particularly when affected persons had completed their education while the institutions were recognised. The bench subsequently set aside the PMDC notification, declaring it invalid.
