Punjab Proposes Sweeping Administrative Changes for Medical Universiti

Punjab Proposes Sweeping Administrative Changes for Medical Universities

New proposals in Punjab place public medical universities, teaching hospitals, and colleges under the control of vice chancellors.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 30, 2026 · 5:49 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Seven public medical universities in Punjab face administrative changes under a new ordinance.

Vice chancellors would gain the powers of chief executive and chief academic officer.

The Punjab Assembly referred the ordinance to the Standing Committee on Higher Education.

The Governor of Punjab approved the ordinance for 90 days on October 20, 2026.

Finance department representation becomes mandatory in university decision-making bodies.

Administrative structures for seven public medical universities in Punjab could see major overhauls under recent proposals. These changes would grant vice chancellors the duties of chief executive and chief academic officer, alongside direct oversight of affiliated colleges and teaching hospitals.

The Punjab Assembly received the Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026 before sending it to the Standing Committee on Higher Education for review.

Vice chancellors will receive authority over the employees, faculty members, and officers of their respective institutions according to the text of the ordinance.

Additional oversight for teaching hospitals, colleges, and other facilities tied to these public medical universities also falls under the authority of the proposed amendments for vice chancellors.

Relevant laws governing the seven public medical universities in Punjab will change, and certain medical colleges will regain their status as constituent colleges of their universities.

King Edward Medical College Lahore is due to have its status restored as a constituent college of its university under the ordinance. Plans also show Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore turning into Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad becoming Faisalabad Medical University, and both Rawalpindi Medical College and Nishtar Medical College Multan receiving legal status as constituent colleges.

Decision-making bodies within public medical universities must now include a representative from the finance department, as requested by the ordinance. This requires the finance secretary or an official holding at least the rank of additional secretary to take part.

On October 20, 2026, the Governor of Punjab gave approval to the Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026 for a duration of 90 days. The Standing Committee on Higher Education will evaluate the ordinance next, followed by a presentation to the Punjab Assembly based on the committee findings for final legislative approval by the House.

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