NAROWAL: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal attended the first white coat Ceremony of the Narowal Medical College as the chief guest, where 100 first-year MBBS students were formally inducted into the medical profession.

The ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the academic journey of these students, was attended by faculty members, parents, and distinguished guests, says a PID release.

In his address, Ahsan Iqbal congratulated students and their families.

He highlighted the transformative impact of education in Narowal, citing the establishment of key institutions such as an Engineering University, an IT Campus, and the University of Narowal, where over 7,000 students, including 5,000 females, are currently enrolled.

He said the University of Narowal`s Department of Sanitary Sciences has become a successful academic programme.

The Narowal Medical College was formally launched in a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb 18 in a public gathering in Narowal.

A stop-gap arrangement was made to ensure the timely commencement of MBBS classes, with an MoU signed with the University of Narowal in September 2023 to utilise its old campus building as a temporary facility.

The Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Department sanctioned Rs165 million in December 2023 for renovation, procurement of equipment, furniture and fixtures.

The white coat ceremony was also attended by vice chancellors of the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) and the Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU), and pro-vice chancellor of the University of Health Sciences (UHS).