APROPOS the editorial ‘Rejected degrees’ (Aug 10). The matter is extremely distressing. I have been involved in the training of these postgraduate students in a university hospital. This involves four years of strenuous training and the preparation of lectures and workshops by these students besides thesis writing.

If the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) has an issue with this parallel programme they could have approached the Higher Education Commission which oversees all universities in the country and resolve it inside the country rather than involving the Saudi authorities which decided to expel these doctors, who have worked hard to earn their degree.

The universities and the CPSP need to resolve the matter. This is an internal issue for Pakistan, and derecognition by another state is embarrassing while the degree is recognised in Pakistan.

Dr Mumtaz Lakhani
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2019