Poonch Medical College Closure Threatens Academic Year for 500 Students Amid Protests

Academic activities at the medical college in Poonch district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, remain suspended for the second consecutive month, posing a severe threat to the academic future of around 500 students. The institution's closure is a direct consequence of ongoing protests and security concerns that have paralyzed its operations.

Poonch Deputy Commissioner Syed Mumtaz Kazmi has appealed to civil society members and local elected officials to intervene and facilitate the reopening of the Poonch Medical College, located in Rawalakot, by August 10. He warned that the continued disruption could lead to irreparable academic loss for the students, who are enrolled in five different academic classes and hail from various regions of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The college administration is under pressure to complete mandatory attendance and examinations within a strict timeline set by the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore. With an internal assessment scheduled for August 15, the deputy commissioner stressed the urgent need for the college to resume classes immediately to allow students to complete biometric attendance and undergo a three-day examination.

Furthermore, the prolonged closure is not only impacting current students but also jeopardizing the registration process for a proposed nursing college affiliated with the medical institution. The deputy commissioner holds leaders of the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) responsible for the situation, citing the establishment of checkpoints and instances of stone-pelting and illegal checking of commuters, which have created an atmosphere of fear and prevented the college from functioning.

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Failure to complete mandatory attendance and examinations in accordance with the prescribed timeline, he warned, could cause irreparable academic loss to students.