ISLAMABAD: After getting a letter from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has shared details of the College of Medicine and Dentistry at the Hills, Abbottabad.

According to NAB documents available with Dawn, PMDC was directed to share the procedure for registering a new medical college, a list of documents required for registration, confirmation of the procedural steps followed by PMDC during the inspection and recognition of the College of Medicine and Dentistry at the Hills, Abbottabad.

Copies of applications, ownership structure records, certificates and other relevant documents submitted by the college for registration purposes, dates and details of inspections conducted for initial and renewal recognition, names and affiliations of inspection team members assigned to the college, complete inspection reports including photographs, resource checklist and hospital capacity verification were also sought.

NAB had also asked for the names and designations of the executive committee members involved in the college’s review or approval process.

Similarly, all correspondence between PMDC and the college administration, including emails, letters and notices, were sought.

The reply submitted by PMDC, available with Dawn, showed that the inspection of the college was conducted by the president PMDC. The list of members of the executive committee was also provided, but the approval process has not been initiated.

However, the reply and documents showed that the inspection had been conducted on May 29, and 30, 2025, on the directions of the Islamabad High Court, but the college is yet to be recognised.

A senior official of the PMDC, wishing not to be quoted, said it was strange that NAB had started an investigation against a private medical college which had not been recognised, had not got a licence and not started admissions.

“It gives an impression that some personalities have been trying to pressure the college. In the past two decades, a number of scandals have been reported in which colleges approached courts as they were being pressured by the PMDC and NAB. It is strange that inspection of a college was convened by PMDC, but a report never placed before the executive committee for consideration as per PMDC Act,” he said.

In the past, both Supreme Court and high courts stopped NAB from investigations.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2025