Pakistan Sets October 10 Deadline for Some Afghan Students and Doctors

DID Press: Pakistan has introduced new conditions for Afghan medical students seeking to continue their studies in the country, making valid visas and compliance with legal requirements prerequisites for remaining enrolled.

Under a new directive from Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, Afghan medical students must hold valid visas and meet the legal requirements governing their residence and education.

The directive states that students who do not meet legal requirements or have not completed their registration, along with Afghan doctors working in Pakistan or undertaking specialist training, must leave the country by October 10, 2026.

The directive also states that the admission of new Afghan students to Pakistani educational institutions will remain subject to government policies and decisions until further notice.

The move follows an earlier policy requiring Afghan students to leave Pakistan, which prompted widespread protests. Pakistani courts subsequently intervened: the Lahore High Court suspended the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s return directive for students who challenged it, while the Islamabad High Court directed the Interior Ministry to decide the visa-related cases of 87 Afghan students within 30 days. The legal status of affected students may therefore vary depending on their individual circumstances and applicable court orders.