ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has expressed grave concern over the sudden abolition of 1,008 grade-17 contract seats for emergency medical officers (EMOs) by the Punjab government.

The decision, issued via a notification on March 14, 2026, rendered over a thousand healthcare professionals jobless just days before Eidul Fitr.

“It is highly unfortunate and ethically questionable to terminate doctors who have served the public healthcare system for over three consecutive years.

“These officers were the backbone of emergency wards in district and tehsil headquarters hospitals across the province, often working exhausting morning, evening and night shifts to ensure patient care,” PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said in a statement.

“The PMA views this move as a blatant violation of established contractual norms and previous government commitments. According to provincial rules and a 2019 amendment, contract employees are eligible for regularisation after three years of service.

“By denying these medics their right to permanent status and instead forcing them to undergo the PPSC examination process anew for re-designated posts, the government is displaying a total lack of regard for their years of service and professional stability,” he said.

Dr Shoro claimed that doctors faced consistent discrimination during their tenure, including the denial of promised 5pc annual pay increases.

“To terminate them so abruptly is not only a personal blow to the doctors and their families but also a systemic threat to the emergency medical infrastructure of Punjab.

The PMA demands that the Punjab government immediately withdraw this notification and prioritise the regularisation of these 1,008 EMOs based on their proven performance and years of service. We call for an immediate review of the ‘Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Services Rules, 2025’ to ensure that the rights of healthcare providers are protected and that such injustices are not repeated”, he added.

“The medical community stands united against such arbitrary decisions that undermine the dignity of the profession and the stability of our healthcare system,” Dr Shoro said.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026