PMDC gets 5th acting registrar in two years

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday witnessed another change in its top administrative office as its leadership appointed Dr Abdul Wali Khan, Executive Deputy Director at the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, as the new ‘Acting Registrar’ of the medical education regulatory body, replacing Dr Shaista Faisal, who was also serving in an acting capacity.

Confirming the move, PMDC President Prof Rizwan Taj said the decision was a temporary arrangement. He emphasised that the council planned to advertise the registrar’s post once again to ensure the appointment of a permanent and qualified professional through a transparent and merit-based selection process, as mandated under the PMDC Act.

The country’s top medical regulatory body has been functioning without a permanent registrar for over two years. The registrar, considered the council’s highest full-time executive, is responsible for day-to-day operations, medical licensing, curriculum approvals, and oversight of both public and private medical institutions. In contrast, the PMDC president serves in an honorary capacity.

The position of registrar is supposed to be filled on a four-year contractual basis, extendable once based on performance. However, since the council’s reconstitution in January 2023, following the dissolution of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), PMDC has repeatedly relied on ad hoc arrangements.

During this period, the council has seen a carousel of acting registrars: Dr Salman Ahmed in January 2023, followed by Dr Azhar Ali Shah in April 2023, then Dr Imdad Khushk in October 2023, and most recently, Dr Shaista Faisal in July 2024. With Dr Abdul Wali Khan’s appointment, the PMDC has now witnessed its fifth acting registrar in just over two years. Prof Rizwan Taj previously admitted that the council had faced repeated setbacks in hiring a suitable candidate for the registrar’s role.

He noted that while the position had been advertised multiple times and interviews were conducted, the council either found the applicants unsuitable or encountered procedural delays. He said that despite the challenges, the council remained committed to filling the position on merit to ensure the credibility and operational efficiency of Pakistan’s primary medical regulatory authority.