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Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical and dental institutions will no longer need to pass MDCAT before going abroad. The regulator said the decision followed council approval, while officials clarified that returning students and foreign graduates will still need to clear required assessments before transfer, house job or practice in Pakistan.
Bannu Division has become a major concern in Pakistan’s anti-polio campaign after recording four of the country’s five confirmed cases this year. Officials say missed children, refusal cases and operational challenges in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain the biggest obstacles to stopping virus transmission.
Lahore again ranked as the world’s most polluted major city as air quality worsened and authorities expanded anti-smog operations. Punjab officials reported emergency measures, inspections, fines and crop-burning prevention efforts as weak winds trapped pollutants over the city.
The Pakistan Medical Association has announced a nationwide closure of private hospitals and clinics on September 30 in protest against tax and compliance measures affecting the medical sector. The association is seeking federal intervention and plans further consultations at a convention in Gujrat on October 11.
Lahore rose to the top of a global air-pollution ranking on Friday evening as its AQI reached 194, with readings exceeding 200 in parts of the city. Residents, particularly vulnerable groups and people spending extended periods outdoors, were advised to reduce exposure as smog conditions intensified.
Pakistan has launched a sub-national polio vaccination drive across 115 districts targeting more than 31 million children under five. More than 273,000 workers are taking part as authorities focus on high-risk areas and seek to sustain the sharp decline in polio cases recorded this year.
Cancer patients in Multan are set to receive free treatment at a newly inaugurated specialised centre as Punjab expands cancer-care services beyond Lahore. Authorities say patients at all stages will be eligible for treatment, while further operational details on registration, referrals and service capacity remain to be announced.
A Senate committee has rejected the investigation into the deadly PIMS fire that killed 14 children and ordered a fresh inquiry, forensic examination and DNA testing. The decision adds to ongoing scrutiny of hospital safety and comes as authorities implement wider reforms and fire-prevention measures.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered authorities to implement the short-term recommendations of the PIMS fire inquiry within three months following the August nursery blaze that killed 14 newborns. The plan covers fire-safety upgrades, hospital audits, medicine access, staffing improvements and wider safety checks across Islamabad.
A Senate health committee has demanded legal and administrative action against officials found responsible in an inquiry into the deaths of children at PIMS in Islamabad. The panel also ordered improvements in emergency care, staffing, medicines, equipment and accountability systems to prevent similar incidents.
Hospitals in parts of Nowshera are reporting between 50 and 100 chikungunya patients a day as cases increase around the Ziarat Kaka Sahib area. Residents are demanding emergency measures, additional medical staff and medicines as health authorities continue surveillance and mosquito-control operations.
International passengers covered by new airport health rules will need NADRA-linked vaccination proof from September 14, with Umrah pilgrims specifically instructed to obtain the digital certificate before departure. Travellers are being advised to complete required vaccinations and digital registration in advance to avoid delays at airports.
