LHC Moves Against Rising Fees in Private Medical Colleges Across Punjab

A petition has been submitted in the Lahore High Court challenging a sharp and controversial increase in tuition fees imposed by private medical colleges across Punjab. The move has been brought forward by Punjab Assembly member Mohammad Ejaz Shafi, the Judicial Activism Panel, and other petitioners, who have also named the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) as a respondent along with several private institutions. The petition contends that the sudden escalation in fees has made medical education increasingly inaccessible for a large number of deserving students, effectively narrowing opportunities for those from middle and lower-income families. It further argues that such financial barriers are undermining merit-based access to professional education and placing excessive pressure on parents already struggling with rising inflation. The petitioners have urged the court to direct PMDC to revoke additional charges and ensure strict regulation of fee structures in private medical colleges. The case has reignited debate over affordability and regulation in Pakistan’s higher education sector, particularly in medical training institutions.