The Punjab government has ended free nursing education in government-run colleges, introducing tuition fees and withdrawing stipends under a new policy issued by the Punjab Health Department.
According to details that emerged on Saturday, nursing students will now be required to pay fees amounting to thousands of rupees to continue their education. The monthly stipend previously provided to students has been abolished, while charges for accommodation in government hostels have also been imposed.
Under the revised policy, only candidates securing at least 50 percent marks at the intermediate level will be eligible for admission to nursing programmes. A Punjab domicile has been made mandatory for admission to government nursing colleges across the province.
The policy further states that admissions at the Nursing College of Shahdara Teaching Hospital will be restricted to male students only.
Across Punjab, a total of 3,100 seats have been allocated for morning shifts in government nursing colleges, while 3,000 seats have been reserved for evening shifts. In nursing colleges attached to teaching hospitals, 100 seats each have been allocated for morning and evening shifts. Meanwhile, nursing colleges affiliated with district hospitals will offer 50 seats per shift.
The new policy marks a significant shift in nursing education in Punjab, ending the long-standing practice of free training and stipends in government institutions.
