LAHORE, Dec 7: The Fatima Jinnah Medical College (FJMC) is likely to lose its 64-year-old identity, as a seven-member committee has recommended that it should be upgraded to university on the pattern of the King Edward Medical University (KEMU).

“It was discussed that once the FJMC was upgraded and converted into the Fatima Jinnah Women’s Medical University, the college, for all intents and purposes, should legally stand merged into the new university and would  not retain its independent identity,” says the draft recommendation.

The draft says the committee has taken the decision to avoid heavy spending on the college and university as separate institutions. Headed by Senator Ishaq Dar, the former finance minister, the Punjab government formed the committee on Sept 14 to implement a Supreme Court verdict on the FJMC status. Other members of the committee are Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique, Punjab Advocate General Ashtar Ausaf, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Abul Hassan Najmi, University of Health Sciences Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Dr I.A. Naveed and Prof Dr Amir Aziz from the Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital.

The committee discussed two options: to upgrade the institute to the varsity while retaining its college status or to merge the college into the university. It, however, preferred the second option.

In the first meeting on Nov 27, the committee discussed various aspects and formalities to change the FJMC status, including its financial impact, legal complications and requirements of human resource.

Meanwhile, the departments concerned were tasked with formulating guidelines and proposals at their level. Later, the committee finalised its recommendations and sent these to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Nov 30 for his final approval.

“The purpose of the meeting was to make recommendations for establishment of the Fatima Jinnah Women’s Medical University on the analogy of KEMU or as a separate entity with FJMC as a constituent college of the university,” say minutes of the Nov 30 meeting.

Finally, recommendations were made on the basis of the opinion of all meeting participants, who recommended that the college should be upgraded to the varsity on the pattern of the KEMU.

FJMC students have launched a protest campaign against its affiliation with the University of Health Sciences and in favour of its elevation to the university.