Islamabad(July 12, 2018): The Supreme Court on Thursday barred private medical colleges countrywide from advertising admissions until further notice.
The chief justice was hearing a suo motu case on exorbitant fees charged by medical colleges, at the apex court’s Lahore registry.
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Officials from the Federal Investigation Agency informed the court that Rs745 million had been successfully recovered and returned to students. The agency further pleaded the court to issue directives to the University of Health Sciences to constitute a centralised admissions policy.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar expressed satisfaction at the recovery of fees from the medical colleges, and remarked that the court wants quality doctors emerging from the country.
People like shopkeepers have entered into the profession of running medical colleges, the top judge remarked.
He lamented that medical colleges have been extracting as much as Rs3.4 million from students in fees, adding that the court also wanted medical colleges to be able to meet their expenses.
The chief justice further remarked that he is going on a week-long leave, and will resume hearing cases from July 30. 
The chief justice had warned of action against medical colleges not complying with the court’s orders.
Earlier on May 24, the Supreme Court ordered private medical colleges to refund the excessive fee to students within 15 days.
A two-member bench of SC’s Lahore registry heard the suo moto case against the exorbitant fees of private medical colleges across the country.
The apex court ordered that fee more than Rs. 850,000 should be refunded to the students, and colleges which fail to follow suit should be investigated.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also took notice of illegally registered medical colleges during the tenure of Dr. Asim.
He sent the matter to National Accountability Bureau and asked for a report to be submitted within a month. 
On December 28, 2017, the CJP had remarked that the court should be informed how much fee is being charged from students and observed that the court is trying that money should not be an obstacle in attaining an education.
Appearing before the court after being summoned, Punjab governor’s son Ahsan Rajwana offered an unconditional apology to the court over his interference in the case. The apology was accepted by the bench.
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