LAHORE: Principals of private medical colleges in Punjab have proposed extending the deadline for admissions against vacant MBBS seats until February 28 while agreeing to grant full fee refunds to students withdrawing by March 31 officials said.

The decision was reached at a consultative meeting held at the University of Health Sciences, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore. Colleges had earlier been instructed to fill vacant seats by February 13 but several institutions reported unfilled slots. Participants agreed to recommend a fresh deadline of February 28 subject to approval by the Provincial Admission Committee (PAC).

The development follows a recent extension in the overall MBBS admissions schedule announced by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Under the proposal admissions against vacant seats would be completed between February 24 and February 28, with no further extensions. Officials stressed that the academic session must proceed without delay.

It was also decided that students seeking transfers must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) and colleges were directed not to refuse NOC issuance until February 24.

Separately officials highlighted Punjab’s growing shortage of practising doctors. Of roughly 8,000 annual graduates, only 40% to 45% continue in medicine leaving thousands of government hospital posts vacant. Authorities plan new hiring measures to address the gap.