Navigating medical college admissions in Pakistan is challenging, especially with fierce competition for limited seats. Punjab’s aspiring doctors primarily compete for open merit MBBS seats within Punjab, but there’s another avenue that many overlook – reciprocal seats of MBBS for Punjab students. These are a small number of seats in medical colleges of other provinces reserved for Punjab-domiciled candidates under reciprocal agreements. This comprehensive guide explains which provinces and colleges offer these reciprocal MBBS seats in 2024–25, how many seats are available, how they compare to Punjab’s open merit seats, and why they’re so valuable.

Table of Contents

• What are Reciprocal MBBS Seats?
• Reciprocal MBBS Seats for Punjab Students (2024–25)
• Province-Wise & College-Wise Seat Allocation
• Open Merit vs Reciprocal Seats in Punjab
• MBBS Fee Structure: Government vs Private Colleges
• Why Choose Reciprocal Seats
• How to Apply for MBBS Reciprocal Seats
• Conclusion
• FAQs

In Pakistan’s medical college admissions, reciprocal seats are a form of inter-provincial seat exchange. Under this scheme, provinces agree to reserve a few MBBS seats for students from other provinces on a reciprocal basis. For Punjab, this means two things:

• Inbound Reciprocal Seats: A small number of seats in Punjab’s public medical colleges are offered to students from other provinces (like KPK, Balochistan, etc.) – and in exchange,
• Outbound Reciprocal Seats: Punjab students are given a few seats in medical colleges of those other regions.

These arrangements are mutually agreed by provincial authorities. In practice, Punjab offers a handful of seats to outside candidates (and vice versa), but the numbers are not necessarily equal. Reciprocal seats broaden opportunities for Punjab-domiciled students. If you narrowly miss admission on Punjab’s open merit, a reciprocal MBBS seat can be a second chance to get into a public medical college – albeit in another province/region.

For the 2024–2025 admission cycle, a total of 14 MBBS seats in public medical colleges outside Punjab are available to Punjab-domiciled candidates on a reciprocal basis. These 14 seats are distributed across three regions: Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).

Official policy documents confirm this allocation. The Government of Punjab’s admission policy notes that

“Fourteen (14) students of Punjab will be admitted in medical colleges of the provinces of Balochistan and KPK and the state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir” on a reciprocal basis.

This is the outbound side of the arrangement. (On the inbound side, Punjab’s colleges admit 5 students from other provinces reciprocally, but our focus here is the seats available to Punjab’s own students.)

Let’s break down those 14 reciprocal seats by province and institution:

The following table shows the province-wise and college-wise distribution of reciprocal MBBS seats allocated to Punjab students in 2024–25:

As shown, Balochistan offers 4 seats (all at Bolan Medical College, Quetta) to Punjab’s students, KPK offers 1 seat (at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar), and AJK offers 9 seats across three medical colleges (3 seats each at Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, and Rawalakot). These totals sum up to 14.

Why only 14 seats? Simply put, these agreements are limited in scope. Punjab has a much larger pool of medical applicants, so even though 14 seats is a small number, they can be lifesaving for those few students who utilize them. Conversely, provinces like Balochistan and KPK have fewer medical colleges, hence fewer seats they can offer reciprocally.

Open merit seats are the regular MBBS seats in Punjab’s 16 public medical colleges, available to Punjab-domiciled students purely on merit (MDCAT + F.Sc scores). In 2024, there were 3,047 open merit MBBS seats in these college. This number is vastly higher than the 14 reciprocal seats available outside Punjab.

This stark difference means reciprocal seats are an extra opportunity, but not a major increase in capacity. They represent roughly 0.5% of the number of open merit seats. From a merit standpoint, admission on a reciprocal seat can sometimes be slightly easier (lower merit) than Punjab open merit. The closing merit for a reciprocal seat falls a bit below the last open merit seat in Punjab. This essentially acts as a “lower merit quota” opportunity – a fact often highlighted in admissions guidance for students who just miss the Punjab merit cutoff.

Public Medical Colleges (e.g., KEMU, Bolan MC)

• Annual Fee: ~Rs. 15,000–18,000
• Total 5-Year Cost: ~Rs. 80,000

Same fee for reciprocal students — no “outsider” charges

Private Medical Colleges

• Annual Fee: Rs. 9–13+ lakhs
• Total 5-Year Cost: Rs. 50–100 lakhs+

Even the cheapest private medical colleges in Pakistan cost 60–100x more than public colleges

Considering the points above, the value of a reciprocal MBBS seat for a Punjab student is clear:

• ‍Access to Medical College for Lower-Merit Candidates: With only ~3,000 open merit MBBS seats in Punjab for thousands of top scorers, many capable students just miss the cutoff. Reciprocal seats (14 additional opportunities) can accommodate some of these students.
• Public College Education (High Quality, Low Cost): A student on a reciprocal seat studies in a recognized public sector medical college (e.g., Bolan MC or Khyber MC) alongside local students. The degree is accredited by PMC and is equivalent to any MBBS from Punjab.
• Inter-Provincial Diversity and Exposure: Studying on a reciprocal seat means you will live and study in a different province for five years. While initially daunting, this can be a rewarding experience – you’ll gain exposure to different healthcare environments, network beyond your home province, and contribute to diversity in the classroom.
• No Separate Exam Required: Punjab candidates do not need to take another entry test for these reciprocal seats. Your MDCAT (conducted by UHS) is valid.

1. Appear in MDCAT and meet eligibility (FSc ≥ 60%)
2. Apply via UHS online portal
3. Include reciprocal colleges in your preference list
4. UHS releases separate reciprocal merit lists
5. Selected students complete admission at the assigned college

💡 Tip: Track UHS updates and opt-in to reciprocal preferences during choice filling.

By understanding these nuances of reciprocal seats of MBBS for Punjab students, you can widen your options in the 2024–25 admissions. These seats may be few, but they offer a precious opportunity to earn a medical degree on open-merit terms (merit-based, low cost), even if it means studying outside your home province. Always stay updated with UHS notifications and official sources for any changes each year.

What are reciprocal seats for MBBS?
Seats exchanged between provinces so students from one province (like Punjab) can study MBBS in another.

Can Punjab students apply in AJK medical colleges?
Yes — under the reciprocal scheme, Punjab has 9 seats in AJK colleges (Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Rawalakot).

Can Punjab students apply in Ayub Medical College for MBBS?
No — Ayub Medical College (KPK) does not offer reciprocal seats to Punjab students. Only Khyber MC does (1 seat).

How many seats for MBBS in Punjab?
Over 3,000 open merit seats in public-sector medical colleges under UHS.

What is the cost of MBBS in Punjab?
Govt. colleges: ~Rs. 15,000–18,000 per year.
Private colleges: Rs. 9–12 lakh per year.

How many open merit seats are in UHS?
Approximately 3,047 MBBS seats (2024–25).

Is MDCAT necessary for UHS?
Yes. You must clear MDCAT with at least 55% to be eligible.

What is open merit quota?
Open merit seats are filled purely based on merit — not reserved for any category.

What is the ranking of UHS?
UHS is among Pakistan’s top public medical universities, consistently ranked in national and regional rankings.

Which is the biggest medical university in Pakistan?
Dow University (DUHS) and UHS are considered among the largest by enrollment and affiliations.

At what percentage is distinction in UHS?
Usually at 80% or above — check the latest UHS examination regulations.

Q. Which is the No 1 ranking University of Pakistan?
According to HEC and QS, Aga Khan University and NUST frequently top the list depending on category.