LAHORE, Jan 31: The academic council of the Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) on Friday unanimously approved its affiliation with the University of Health Sciences (UHS).

PGMI principal Prof Dr Ali Ajwad Shah had called an academic council meeting following Punjab University's refusal to conduct institute students' M.Phil and master of surgery (MS) examinations.

The PU had claimed that the government had asked it to stop conducting PGMI students' examinations as it had been restricted to conduct only undergraduate medical examinations for the King Edward Medical College and Fatima Jinnah Medical College.

Sources claimed that the academic council discussed the new situation and some members expressed their apprehensions that the postgraduate medical education might suffer due to attachment with the UHS as it had no clear cut programme.

The PGMI principal also met UHS board of governors chairman Prof Dr Mahmood Chaudhry and discussed the affiliation matters. It is learnt that Prof Chaudhry assured that the PGMI would spearhead the postgraduate medical education in the province.

The UHS administration had also asked Prof Shah to become chairman of board of studies but he refused to accept the offer. He said he had a big commitment towards the expansion of PGMI and the LGH.

Instead, he recommended that one of senior professors at the PGMI, Prof Dr Naseer Chaudhry, should be appointed as board of studies chairman.

The principal also asked three senior professors, Prof Naseer Chaudhry, Prof Zameer Ahmad and Prof Riaz Tasneem, to finalize the smooth transition from the PU to the UHS.

The UHS board of studies under the chairmanship of Prof Naseer Chaudhry would meet next week to finalize dates to conduct M.Phil and MS examinations.

It is also learnt that the UHS had accepted the same applications and fees submitted with the PU that would soon be transferred to the UHS.