Mustafa Kamal says Pakistan needs around 900,000 nurses, while currently only around 6,000 are available
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC), after its reconstitution, approved the registration of 55 nursing colleges, while four previously unregistered institutions were granted registration after four years after payment of fines worth millions of rupees.
At a press conference at the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council headquarters, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal alleged that corruption had been rampant in the previous nursing council and claimed that regulatory functions had remained effectively paralyzed for years.
He said the newly constituted council had begun addressing a large backlog of pending cases and introducing reforms to restore transparency and accountability.
He noted that Pakistan needed around 900,000 nurses, while currently there were only around 6,000 available. By comparison, a neighboring country employed approximately 600,000 nurses, while the global nursing shortage was 2.5 million.
The minister alleged that the former council president possessed a false title and that the previous council elections were also fraudulent.
He alleged that the former president and joint secretary had turned the institution into a mafia-like network where millions of rupees were allegedly demanded from universities seeking approvals.
Kamal further alleged that despite court orders, the new administration was initially prevented from taking office. “If he wanted corruption, why wouldn’t he have remained friends with the old administration? They were a money-making machine,” he added.
“Bring evidence. Show me a receipt, even for a cup of tea, and if I don’t take disciplinary action, then I’ll be guilty.”
The minister said the government had promulgated an ordinance to dismantle the alleged corrupt network and reform the council’s governance structure.
Under the new framework, the president of the council will be a grade 22 official responsible for administrative decisions. A new council of 19 members has already been formed.
He argued that even if the ordinance were to expire, decisions made during its validity would still be protected by law, citing the legal coverage available through the higher courts.
Kamal revealed that no nursing college had been registered after March 2025 and applications from 425 colleges were still awaiting inspection.
He alleged that the inspection cell had remained inactive for two years.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Bill 2026.
