ISLAMABAD: Stu­de­nts from Balochistan and the erstwhile Federally Ad­­ministered Tribal Areas (Fata) have de­­manded the government to restore 333 medical seats previously reserved for students of these regions for pursuing medical education.

Addressing a press con­­ference at the Natio­nal Press Club on Friday, a group of students said there was no medical college in the former tribal region and, apart from quota seats allocated by the authorities, students from those areas had no meaningful opportunity to pursue medical education.

They said every year the Higher Education Commission (HEC) reserved 333 seats for students from these areas, but this year the number had been reduced to 121 comprising 113 seats announced by Khyber Medical University (KMU) and eight by Kashmir Medical College. Sindh and Balochistan had allocated 68 and 24 seats, respectively, last year, but none had provided any seat this time, they pointed out.

“We demand that all 333 seats be restored instead of limiting them to 121,” they said.

Quota reduced from 333 to 121 seats this year in violation of 2018 HEC policy, they allege

Last year, they added, KMU had allocated 149 seats, while Kashmir Medical College had offered eight seats.

The students said Pun­jab normally allocated 76 seats each year through the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore.

However, they alleged, the UHS, too, was pursuing a different policy this year.

They also pointed out that a formal policy had been announced in 2018 to double the quota for students from the less developed regions, but it had not been implemented.

The students urged the relevant authorities to restore at least 333 seats so that students from Balochistan and former Fata could have adequate opportunities to pursue medical education.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2026