Punjab ordinance changes management of seven medical universities
The Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026 has been presented in the Punjab Assembly and sent to a standing committee. It would give vice chancellors wider powers over seven public medical universities.
- The ordinance was referred to the Standing Committee on Higher Education.
- Vice chancellors would act as chief executive and chief academic officer.
- Finance Department representation would become mandatory in decision-making bodies.
- The governor approved the ordinance on 20 October 2026 for 90 days.
The Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026 has been presented in the Punjab Assembly and referred to the Standing Committee on Higher Education, according to reports by Express News and Daily Pakistan. It proposes changes to how seven public sector medical universities in Punjab are run.
Under the proposal, vice chancellors would hold the powers of chief executive and chief academic officer of their universities. They would also have administrative control over the universities' officers, teachers and employees, as well as over affiliated colleges, teaching hospitals and other institutions.
The ordinance also deals with the status of several medical colleges. It would restore the status of King Edward Medical College Lahore as a sub-college of its university. Rawalpindi Medical College and Nishtar Medical College Multan would be given legal status as sub-colleges of their respective universities.
Two institutions would be upgraded. Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore would be given the status of Fatima Jinnah Medical University, and Punjab Medical College Faisalabad would become Faisalabad Medical University, according to Express News.
The ordinance would also make it mandatory for the Finance Department to be represented in the decision-making bodies of public medical universities. Each university's body would include the Secretary Finance or a nominated officer of at least Additional Secretary rank.
The Governor of Punjab approved the ordinance on 20 October 2026 for 90 days, Express News reported. After the standing committee reviews it, it will be presented in the assembly for approval. Once the assembly approves it, the ordinance will become law.
Why it matters
The changes affect how seven public medical universities in Punjab are run, which matters to their students and to the teaching hospitals and colleges attached to them.
