Afghan medical students urge govt to stop their repatriation

PESHAWAR: Concern is growing among Afghan medical students studying in Pakistan after the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) directed them to return to Afghanistan, where many face limited opportunities for further education. Anayatullah Momand, a final-year MBBS student at Khyber Medical College, shared the plight of 1,000 Afghan students, including 350 female students, who are currently pursuing degrees in Pakistan.

"With no prospects for women to continue their education in Afghanistan due to the Taliban's ban, our greatest worry is the fate of female students who will likely be confined at home," Momand explained. The PMDC's directive has caused unrest, particularly among female students, who hold no assurance of furthering their education in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

An estimated 200 students who have completed their house jobs and are awaiting specialization programs are also affected by the repatriation order. The government is urged to exempt these existing students and allow them to complete their education. "Our concern is female students, who, without education, will be confined to their homes.

We have valid visas and have applied for renewal," Momand added. Despite the Lahore High Court suspending the PMDC's directives temporarily, the danger remains, as the decision could potentially send Afghan students back to a time without women's education.