PAKISTAN Navy has recently announced selection of male and female candidates for M cadet scheme for its fifth batch. This is an opportunity for fourth and fifth year MBBS students to join the navy as doctor in its medical branch.

However, unlike the past years, this year the navy has introduced a strange policy. While fourth year male and female students can apply for the scheme, only male students who are in their fifth year can apply.

Will someone explain why such a policy has been adopted by the navy for the selection of medical cadets who have significantly lesser fieldwork, especially in a country where the number of female medical students is strikingly higher than male?

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2019