ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has terminated the services of 12 employees and continues making new appointments.

According to a document dated April 20, available with Dawn, employees have been informed that their contracts were extended for a period of 60 days as a one-time measure that expired on April 19, 2021.

“The employees are informed not to come to office as directed by the competent authority,” it stated.

According to the document, the employees who have been sacked included Coordinator Information Dr Sarah Ali, Coordinator Licensing Dr Maria Sameer, Coordinator Examinations Dr Asiya Zaiban Khan, Coordinator Education Dr Farha Naz Zaidi, Coordinator Verification Section Salahuddin, Assistant IT Asfand Yar Khan, Registration Officer Mohammad Saqib as well as Abdul Manan, Adnan Rauf, Ahmed Raza and Nasir Nisar.

An official of the PMC, requesting not to be quoted, said five of the employees had been assured that they would be reappointed.

“It is unfortunate that on the one hand PMC has been appointing new employees and on the other it is terminating services of others,” he said.

PMC Vice President Ali Raza was not available for comments but the commission’s media department in a statement confirmed that 12 employees had been hired on permanent and 40 on temporary basis.

The PMC said three-year contracts had been given to the management cadre employees which can be renewed. The contract might be terminated by the employees subject to a one-month notice period but they have been given contract until retirement.

Moreover, PMC is giving health insurance to employees and their immediate family members, including parents.

It may be mentioned that a number of times Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) was made dysfunctional by the successive governments. During the tenure of current government the PMDC was converted into PMC after a bill, “Pakistan Medical Commission Act 2020”, was passed in a joint session of parliament as on Sept 16, 2020, and later signed by President Dr Arif Alvi.

Earlier, there were permanent status of employees of the PMDC but PMC changed their status into contractual.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2021