KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has strongly condemned the Punjab Government’s decision to promulgate the Punjab Regularization of Service (Repeal) Ordinance 2025, calling it a draconian measure that undermines the job security and basic rights of doctors and other public sector employees.
In a statement, the PMA said the new ordinance repeals the earlier framework that allowed contract employees to be regularized after years of satisfactory service. The association warned that this reversal would create widespread job insecurity among doctors and healthcare workers who have long served the public sector with dedication.
The PMA also objected to the introduction of “lump sum pay package” contracts for new recruits instead of the standard basic pay scales. It said this new policy strips employees of essential benefits such as pensions, gratuity, and allowances. “This lump sum contract system is state-sponsored exploitation,” the PMA stated, adding that it would create a discriminatory two-tier system among government employees.
Highlighting the implications for the healthcare sector, the PMA warned that the move could accelerate brain drain as doctors leave government service for private practice or opportunities abroad. It further cautioned that demoralization and instability within the health workforce could lead to a decline in service delivery and patient care quality across Punjab’s hospitals.
The PMA has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance and the restoration of the regularization process for all eligible healthcare employees. The association also announced that it is prepared to unite with other employee unions and associations to launch a joint movement against the government if its demands are not met promptly.
