The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has strongly condemned the Punjab government’s decision to abruptly abolish 1,008 contract posts of Grade 17 for Emergency Medical Officers (EMOs), leaving over a thousand healthcare professionals unemployed just days before Eid-ul-Fitr.
In a statement, the medical body expressed grave concern over the notification, issued on March 14, 2026, describing the termination of medics who have served for over three consecutive years as highly unfortunate and ethically questionable. These officers were identified as the backbone of emergency wards in District and Tehsil Headquarters hospitals throughout the province.
The PMA asserted that the move is a blatant violation of established contractual norms. The association highlighted that under provincial rules and a 2019 amendment, contract employees are eligible for regularisation after three years of continuous service.
According to the PMA, the government is displaying a total lack of regard for the doctors” years of service by denying them permanent status. Instead, the administration is compelling them to undergo the PPSC examination process again for re-designated posts, effectively nullifying their professional stability and experience.
The statement further revealed that the affected EMOs had previously faced consistent discrimination, including the denial of promised 5% annual pay increases. The PMA described the sudden dismissals as not only a personal blow to the doctors and their families but also a systemic threat to the emergency medical infrastructure of Punjab.
The Pakistan Medical Association has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notification. It called on the Punjab government to prioritise the regularisation of the 1,008 EMOs based on their proven performance and lengthy service.
Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, Secretary General of the PMA, also urged for an immediate review of the “Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Services Rules, 2025” to protect the rights of healthcare providers. He affirmed that the medical community stands united against such arbitrary decisions that undermine the dignity of the profession.