Medical and dental students in Pakistan won’t get summer vacations this year, even as the country faces extreme heat, with temperatures rising above 45°C in cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Multan.
This is because their classes for the 2024–2025 session started late in April, due to delays in admissions. Now, with less time to complete the syllabus, most colleges have cancelled summer holidays. Some students may get a short 7-day break in July, but many have been told there will be no vacation at all.
The pressure is especially hard on second- and third-year students, who are also adjusting to a new MBBS curriculum. Many say they are feeling tired, stressed, and burned out. One student from King Edward Medical University said, “They expect us to give our best, but we’re getting exhausted.”
Students living in hostels are also suffering. Many rooms have no working air conditioning, and the heat is unbearable. A dental student from Karachi said, “We’re studying medicine, but the living conditions are bad for our health.” Some students are even sleeping in libraries or shared areas to find cooler spaces.
There’s growing frustration, especially because students in other fields are still getting their regular summer holidays. Many medical students are now calling on university leaders and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to rethink the schedule and take care of students’ health and well-being.
