LAHORE: The Punjab government has introduced major changes to its nursing admission policy, removing the Rs31,600 monthly stipend and free hostel facilities previously available to students. The new measures have shifted the financial burden entirely onto the families of aspiring nurses, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds.
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Critics argue that the policy undermines the efforts of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to provide accessible nursing education to young women. Experts have also raised concerns that Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique and Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood failed to adequately consider the financial impact on students’ families before submitting the recommendations for approval.
Observers fear that the changes represent a gradual move toward the privatisation of nursing education in the province. They warn that this could have long-term consequences for Punjab’s public healthcare sector, which already suffers from a shortage of qualified and experienced nurses. The policy may also negatively affect patient care in state-run hospitals that are under significant strain.
Monthly Stipend and Free Accommodation End for Punjab Nursing Studentshttps://t.co/5HAJh3Q2Ki#PunjabNursing #Stipend #PunjabGovt pic.twitter.com/TUSsPlrh19
— Pakbiz.com (@PakBizOfficial) November 26, 2025
Under the revised framework, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore has been designated as the admission authority for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN Generic) four-year degree programme. Admissions are being offered for 3,100 seats in the morning batch across 45 public nursing colleges. Additionally, 1,400 seats have been added for evening programmes in 15 public colleges, including Mayo Hospital, King Edward Medical University, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, and other major institutions.
The policy explicitly states that there will be no stipend for BSN Generic students in either batch, and free hostel facilities have been withdrawn. Students from rural and low-income families may now face the challenge of paying high lodging fees or arranging costly private accommodation far from home, raising safety concerns.
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Families and students have expressed strong resentment over the decision, while the policy also outlines eligibility, scoring criteria, and application processes for nursing college admissions.