Students from former FATA and Balochistan addressed a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad, urging immediate restoration of the 333 medical seats previously allocated for their regions. Speakers including Shaukatullah, Hizbullah Wazir, Asad, Allahyar, Rahatullah and others said the reduction has endangered students’ ability to pursue higher medical education.

They explained that the Higher Education Commission quota for these regions has been cut to 121 seats this year, with Khyber Medical University assigning 113 seats and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 8 seats. By contrast, KMU had allocated 149 seats last year and AJK kept 8 seats. Sindh provided 68 seats last year but none have been offered this year, while Balochistan supplied 24 seats previously and so far has provided none. The students also accused the University of Health Sciences Punjab of deviating from HEC policy and ignoring merit standards when allocating seats, which has sparked disputes among applicants.

Speakers stressed that there is still no medical college in the tribal districts of the former FATA, making quota-based opportunities the primary pathway to medical study. They recalled a 2018 decision to double the quota, a measure that was never implemented, and argued that without reinstating the full 333 medical seats many capable students will lose access to professional training.

The students demanded that the HEC immediately restore the previously allotted seats so that young people from FATA and Balochistan can continue their education and contribute as trained healthcare professionals. They urged authorities to act swiftly to safeguard equal access to medical education and to resolve allocation discrepancies before the academic year progresses further.