For many Hindu families living in Pakistan, the future of their daughters has long been shadowed by uncertainty. Reports of religious persecution, social discrimination, and forced conversions have created an atmosphere of fear that has pushed several families to seek safety beyond their borders. For many of them, India—linked by history, culture, and faith—represents not only a refuge but also a place where their daughters can live with dignity and security.

In recent years, several Pakistani Hindu girls have been married to Indian citizens and migrated to India to join their husbands and families. To facilitate such reunions, the Government of India has granted Long Term Visas (LTV) after special approvals from authorities in New Delhi. These visas enable them to settle in India and begin the process that may eventually lead to Indian citizenship.

Among these migrants are a number of highly qualified young women who have completed MBBS degrees from medical universities and colleges in Pakistan. These institutions are recognized internationally, and their degrees are acknowledged by the National Medical Commission as valid foreign medical qualifications.

Their journeys are stories of resilience. For their parents, their daughters becoming doctors was a matter of pride and hope. It symbolized education, empowerment, and the possibility of a better life.

Yet, after reaching India—the country they consider their natural home—many of these doctors now face a painful paradox. While they have found safety and family, their professional futures remain uncertain.

Hope Rooted in India’s Promise

These migrant doctors say they draw confidence from the words of India’s national leadership. Prime Minister Narendrabhai  Modi has often spoken about India’s responsibility toward persecuted minorities from neighboring countries.

In one of his addresses, he remarked:

“There are many children of Maa Bharti who have faced persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. We will stand with those who were once part of India but got separated from us due to the Partition of 1947.”

For migrant Hindu families, such statements resonate deeply. They reinforce the belief that India is not merely a destination but a homeland that recognizes their suffering and aspirations.

Similarly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasized that persecuted Hindus from neighboring countries have an equal moral right to live on Indian soil with dignity and security.

For migrant doctors who have rebuilt their lives in India, these assurances offer hope that their professional aspirations will also be recognized.

A Delegation’s Appeal to the Union Health Ministry

Recently, a delegation representing migrant doctors met Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

The delegation included Migrant Pak Hindu Doctors Forum  Dr. Darshna Jagani, Dr. Om Parkash (Pediatrician), Dr. Manoj Chandani, Dr. Harsh Harani, Dr. Harish Dewani, and Rajesh Maheshwari.

They explained that many Pakistani Hindu doctors have migrated to India with the intention of permanent settlement. Under existing government policy, migrants on Long Term Visa can apply for Indian citizenship after six years of residence. However, in the absence of a clear regulatory framework, these doctors remain unable to pursue postgraduate medical education or practice medicine fully in India.

The delegation urged the Union Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission to issue specific guidelines for migrant Hindu minority doctors from Pakistan, rather than treating them as ordinary foreign medical graduates who come to India temporarily for training.

Practical Requests for a Fair Opportunity

The delegation placed several practical proposals before the Union Health Minister to address the issue:

• Allow migrant Pakistani Hindu doctors on Long Term Visa to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) on par with OCI and PIO doctors.
• Permit them to appear for FMGE without the requirement of an Eligibility Certificate, which generally applies to Indian students who are born in India & completed their schooling in India.
• Allow these doctors to appear for NEET-PG along with Indian, OCI, and PIO candidates.
• Provide registration through the National Medical Commission to enable them to pursue postgraduate medical education in India.
• Allocate special seats to migrant pak Hindu Doctors from the central pool in disciplines such as Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine, and Radiology as earlier allotted by MEA Govt. of India..
• Grant temporary permission for medical practice as per MHA Notification no:28020/58/2014-F.III dt. 15^th December, 2014.  until they receive Indian citizenship.
• Recognize postgraduate qualifications (DCH, Sonography)already obtained from Pakistan and allow PG registration as per earlier application.

The urgency of these requests is underscored by the approaching academic calendar. The NEET-PG examination and the new academic session are expected to begin soon, and without clear guidelines, many eligible doctors may miss another year of opportunity.

The Human Cost of Bureaucratic Delay

The core of the issue lies in a gap between humanitarian policy and administrative procedure.

Government departments often prefer to wait until migrants receive Indian citizenship before addressing professional licensing and registration. However, obtaining citizenship is a lengthy process. Migrants must first live in India on Long Term Visa for six years, and the processing of citizenship applications can take another one to two years.

For young doctors in their twenties or early thirties, such delays can be devastating. An eight-year interruption in professional training can effectively end a medical career.

Years of hard work, study, and sacrifice risk being lost—not because of lack of merit, but because of the absence of a clear policy.

A Policy That Serves Both Humanity and the Nation

India’s healthcare system continually requires skilled medical professionals, particularly in underserved rural and semi-urban areas. Migrant Hindu doctors represent a valuable human resource that could strengthen the healthcare system while rebuilding their own lives.

Allowing them to study further, register professionally, and practice medicine would not only restore dignity to individuals who fled persecution but also enable them to contribute to society.

Such a policy would align with the broader humanitarian vision expressed by leaders like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah—that persecuted minorities who look to India for refuge should be able to live and work with dignity.

 

From Refuge to Responsibility

These migrant doctors did not come to India merely seeking shelter. They came with skills, education, and a commitment to serve.

A compassionate and pragmatic policy from the Union Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission could transform their uncertain future into an opportunity for national service.

In doing so, India would not only provide refuge to those who sought safety—but also empower them to heal lives and strengthen the nation they now call home.

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