08/09/2026
https://www.facebook.com/100057107395786/posts/1606251117955119/?app=fbl
To:
The Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister’s Office, Islamabad
The Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination
Government of Pakistan, Islamabad
The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony
Government of Pakistan, Islamabad
Subject: Representation against discriminatory exclusion of PM&DC-recognized MD/MS degree holders from the Hajj Medical Mission 2027
Respected Sir/Madam,
I respectfully submit this representation against the rejection of MD/MS-qualified doctors from consideration for appointment as specialists in the Hajj Medical Mission 2027 merely because they do not possess an FCPS or FRCS qualification.
Application, bearing Application No. 124060298, was rejected with the following reason:
“For the selected specialist category, your application does not establish the required FRCS or FCPS credential.”
This rejection reflects a serious defect in the eligibility criteria and amounts to unjustified discrimination against doctors holding recognized postgraduate MD/MS qualifications awarded by Pakistani medical universities.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council classifies MD, MS, MDS, FCPS and other equivalent terminal postgraduate medical qualifications within Level III, subject to recognition and registration in the relevant specialty. Therefore, a doctor holding a duly recognized and PM&DC-registered MD or MS qualification cannot reasonably be declared ineligible for a specialist position merely because the nomenclature of the qualification is different from FCPS or FRCS.
FCPS is awarded by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, while MD and MS qualifications are awarded by chartered and recognized medical universities after structured postgraduate training, examinations, clinical assessments and research requirements. The difference lies in the awarding institution and nomenclature—not in the lawful professional status of a properly recognized specialist qualification.
Restricting specialist eligibility exclusively to FCPS or FRCS, while excluding recognized MD/MS qualifications, is arbitrary, discriminatory and contrary to the regulatory framework governing postgraduate medical education in Pakistan. It also violates the constitutional principles of equality, fairness and non-discrimination in public employment.
The Government of Pakistan has established, chartered and supported 17 medical universities that conduct MD, MS and MDS postgraduate training programmes. Considerable public resources are spent on these universities, their teaching hospitals, faculty, clinical training programmes and examinations. Thousands of doctors devote several years to completing these qualifications.
If the Federal Government itself refuses to recognize the graduates of these universities for specialist appointments, a fundamental question arises: why has the Government established and authorized these medical universities and their postgraduate programmes?
Either the qualifications duly recognized by PM&DC must be accepted by all federal ministries and departments, or the Government must explain why public-sector universities are being permitted to award qualifications that its own ministries subsequently refuse to recognize. Continuing to operate these programmes while denying their graduates equal professional opportunities renders the entire university-based postgraduate training system meaningless. If MD/MS qualifications are genuinely considered unacceptable for specialist appointments, the Government would logically have to close these programmes and medical universities rather than continue to mislead and disadvantage thousands of doctors. Such an outcome would, however, be manifestly unjust and contrary to the national interest.
A Hajj Medical Mission requires competent and experienced doctors capable of managing the medical needs of Pakistani pilgrims. Selection should therefore be based on a candidate’s recognized qualification in the relevant specialty, valid PM&DC registration, clinical competence and professional experience—not on preferential treatment based solely upon whether the postgraduate qualification is titled FCPS, FRCS, MD or MS.
We, therefore, respectfully request that the Honourable Prime Minister and the concerned federal ministries may kindly:
1. Take immediate notice of the exclusion of PM&DC-recognized MD/MS degree holders from the specialist category of the Hajj Medical Mission 2027.
2. Direct the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to revise the eligibility criteria by adding the words “FCPS, FRCS, MD, MS or any other equivalent Level III postgraduate qualification recognized and registered by PM&DC.”
3. Order the reconsideration and restoration of Application No. 124060298, as well as all other applications rejected solely because the candidates possessed recognized MD/MS qualifications instead of FCPS or FRCS.
4. Ensure that no federal ministry, department or attached organization discriminates between holders of recognized Level III postgraduate qualifications merely on the basis of the title or awarding institution of the qualification.
5. Seek a formal clarification from PM&DC regarding the status of FCPS, MD, MS, MDS, FRCS and other recognized equivalent specialist qualifications, and require all federal departments to comply with that clarification.
6. Conduct an inquiry into how eligibility criteria inconsistent with Pakistan’s postgraduate medical regulatory framework were approved and implemented.
7. Provide affected applicants with an opportunity to submit their PM&DC registration, postgraduate degree and relevant supporting documents before finalizing the shortlist.
This matter affects not only one applicant but thousands of present and future MD/MS graduates of Pakistan’s medical universities. Allowing such discrimination to continue would undermine the credibility of the country’s postgraduate medical education system and unjustly deprive the Hajj Medical Mission of appropriately qualified specialists.
I respectfully request urgent intervention, correction of the eligibility criteria and reconsideration of all affected candidates before the recruitment process is finalized.
