LAHORE – The Punjab Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has issued a sweeping directive affecting medical institutions across the province, ordering a partial shutdown from March 10 through March 31, 2026. The move, announced via an official notification on Monday, introduces a hybrid model for medical education as the province navigates current administrative and public health requirements.
Under the new orders, all public and private medical universities, colleges, nursing schools, and allied health institutions will officially shut their doors for the remainder of the month. However, the closure is not a total halt to education. In a bid to maintain academic momentum for those just starting their journeys, the department has mandated that first and second-year MBBS classes transition immediately to online learning.
The story is quite different for senior students. Recognizing the critical nature of clinical training, the government has decided that third, fourth, and final-year MBBS students will remain on campus. Their academic schedules, clinical attachments, and examinations will proceed exactly as planned. “We cannot afford a gap in the clinical training of our future doctors who are already integrated into the hospital ecosystem,” noted one senior health official.
The notification also brings clarity to the status of upcoming tests, confirming that all pre-scheduled examinations across all disciplines will be conducted on their original dates. There will be no postponements, and students are advised to stick to their current study plans.
Read More: https://informal.pk/indh-announces-province-wide-educational-holiday-for-youm-i-ali/
While the lecture halls for juniors may go quiet, the attached hospitals will remain as busy as ever. The teaching faculty, along with nursing and allied health students, have been directed to stay at their posts. These groups are considered essential personnel and will continue performing their duties in hospital wards and clinics according to their existing rotas.
Heads of medical institutions across Punjab have been tasked with immediately implementing these directives. They are responsible for ensuring that the transition to online platforms for junior students is seamless and that senior students can continue their hospital-based training without disruption.
The department has emphasized that this decision was made with the approval of the competent authority to balance safety with the rigorous demands of medical certification. As of now, regular on-campus activities for the entire student body are expected to resume on April 1, pending further review.
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