Islamabad: Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), announced major reforms aimed at accelerating licensing, strengthening governance, and enhancing transparency in the nursing and other sectors.
The reforms are being proposed following the enforcement of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Ordinance 2025, which grants the federal government authority to prevent administrative crises and ensure continuity in the council’s operations.
PNC said past governance challenges had led to several challenges including delays in registration, weak verification mechanisms, and erosion of public trust.
Under the new framework, licensing and registration processes will be streamlined to significantly reduce delays, while enabling better workforce planning aligned with national health needs. The revamped system will ensure that patients receive care from qualified and licensed nurses and midwives.
A key pillar of the reforms is end-to-end digitalization.
To further strengthen governance, the new law introduces independent audits, clear financial controls, and other.
The government plans to align nursing education with national health priorities and international standards. As part of this effort, Centers of Excellence for nursing and midwifery will be established, offering modern training facilities, simulation laboratories, and digital learning platforms. Faculty development and continuous training will be reinforced through national and international partnerships, it noted.
Public-private partnerships are being promoted to expand training and employment opportunities, including the International collaborations with Trkiye and Saudi Arabia. Development partners such as the Asian Development Bank have welcomed the reform agenda.
The reforms will be implemented in phases in close coordination with provincial governments and key stakeholders.