Lahore, Private medical and dental colleges in Punjab continues to admit students and violated the rules and regulations set by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and University of Health Sciences (UHS). The SMDC and other colleges, however, violated the admission deadline.

According to sources, most of the private medical institutions, also including the Sharif Medical and Dental College (SMDC), Lahore Medical and Dental College and Multan Medical and Dental College, have not only admitted students but also charged fees from them for the session 2011-12.

According to the PMDC and UHS rules, private colleges can initiate admissions after Oct 31, the time when public colleges complete the process. This year, the Lahore High Court also restrained the UHS from displaying the list of selected students on Oct 30 on petitions challenging PMDC's formula of admission.

The Sharif Medical and Dental College, The Lahore Medical and Dental College, The Multan Medical and Dental College admitted students before October 31, and also charged the fee from candidates. Authorities of these colleges refused to contact when asked for investigations.

UHS and PMDC informed the private colleges not to admit students before the deadline. "Any violation of rules and regulations shall make the institution liable for action under relevant clauses of UHS (Amendment) Act 2009 and PMDC Ordinance, 1962". It also informed them about restrictions on admissions by the Lahore High Court.

Earlier, in another letter on April 21, the UHS intimated private colleges to admit students after Oct 31. The letter cited several court verdicts and PMDC's condition for admission to MBBS/BDS. Since the matter was sensitive, the UHS issued the same instructions to private medical institutions on Sept 22.