A major change has been proposed in the administrative structure of Punjab’s seven public-sector medical universities, under which vice chancellors may receive greater authority over universities, affiliated medical colleges and teaching hospitals.
The proposed Public Sector Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026 was presented in the Punjab Assembly and referred to the Standing Committee on Higher Education for further review.
Under the proposed legislation, vice chancellors would serve as chief executives and chief academic officers of their respective universities. They would also receive administrative powers over university officers, faculty members and other employees.
The proposed amendments aim to bring affiliated medical colleges, teaching hospitals and other institutions under the administrative control of their respective university vice chancellors.
The legislation also proposes restoring the legal status of certain medical colleges as constituent colleges of their affiliated universities.
Under the proposal, King Edward Medical College Lahore would again become a constituent college of King Edward Medical University. Similarly, Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore would be linked with Fatima Jinnah Medical University, while Punjab Medical College Faisalabad would become a constituent college of Faisalabad Medical University.
The proposal also includes granting constituent college status to Rawalpindi Medical College and Nishtar Medical College Multan under their respective universities.
Another important provision requires representation from the Finance Department in the decision-making bodies of public-sector medical universities. The Finance Secretary or an officer holding at least the rank of Additional Secretary would be nominated for this role.
The Governor of Punjab approved the Medical Universities (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026 on October 20, 2026, for a period of 90 days.
The Standing Committee on Higher Education will review the proposed changes before the matter proceeds further in the Punjab Assembly. The amendments will become law only after completing the required legislative process.
