By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) finds itself at the center of a major controversy as its president, Dr. Rizwan Taj, faces allegations of registering his own honorary degree in violation of the council’s policies. The revelation has ignited widespread criticism from the medical community, with experts denouncing the move as a blatant abuse of authority that undermines the credibility of the country’s top medical regulatory body.
PM&DC has historically upheld a strict policy against recognizing honorary degrees, as well as qualifications obtained through online or distant learning, whether from local or international institutions. In 2020, the council firmly rejected a similar request to register an honorary degree for a special advisor to the Prime Minister, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining academic standards.
However, Dr. Rizwan Taj’s alleged self-registration of an honorary degree—reportedly awarded by PM&DC itself—has raised serious concerns about governance and transparency within the institution. Sources suggest that Dr. Taj’s actions are tied to his aspirations for the position of Vice Chancellor at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), for which he has already been shortlisted.
Dr Rizwan is currently serving as the Dean at SZABMU on an extension while simultaneously holding the role of PM&DC President—a dual position that has prompted allegations of conflict of interest. Further compounding the controversy, reports indicate that he obtained his Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the same university where he holds administrative influence, adding to the accusations of power misuse.
