The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has approved 475 additional seats for government medical colleges in Punjab, significantly expanding opportunities for students seeking admission to medical education.
The approval was granted during a PMDC Council meeting held on July 14, 2026. The increase comes after the Punjab government submitted a request in 2025, which was strongly pursued by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and the provincial health department.
With the newly approved seats, the total number of MBBS seats in Punjab’s government medical colleges has risen from 3,476 to 3,951. Meanwhile, the combined number of seats in medical and dental colleges has increased from 3,766 to 4,241.
According to officials, the expansion will enable a larger number of students from across Punjab to secure admission to quality medical institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the increase in seats would help meet the growing demand for medical education and provide more deserving students with access to professional medical training.
He also thanked Punjab Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood and the department’s special coordination team for their efforts in securing the approval from PMDC.
The development is being viewed as a major step toward strengthening medical education capacity in Punjab and addressing the increasing number of applicants seeking admission to public-sector medical colleges.
