Est. 1971 · Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
History of Quaid-e-Azam
Medical College
Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur stands as a premier public-sector medical institution of Southern Punjab — named in honour of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Since its inception in 1971, the college has upheld the ideals of Discipline, Unity, and Merit, shaping thousands of physicians who serve Pakistan and the world.
Its graduates — proudly known as "Quaidians" — carry the college's legacy of excellence into hospitals, research institutions, and communities across the globe.
Founded
1971
Feb 22, 1971
Campus Area
119
Acres on Circular Road
MBBS Seats
350
Per year
Teaching Hospital
1,538 + 410
Beds – Bahawal Victoria Hospital / SAHB
Academic Staff
211
Highly qualified faculty
Founding Milestones
A Journey Through History
Early 1971
The Need for a New Medical College
In 1971, Punjab had only two medical colleges: King Edward Medical College in Lahore, serving men, and Fatima Jinnah Medical College, designated for women. Southern Punjab — with a population of over twelve million spanning Bahawalpur, parts of Sindh, and Baluchistan — lacked a co-educational medical institution. Recognising this critical gap, Governor of Punjab Lt. Gen. Attique-ur-Rehman announced the establishment of a medical college in Bahawalpur.
February 22, 1971
The First Day of Classes
The college officially commenced operations on February 22, 1971, in a newly constructed building on Baghdad Road, at the premises of the Vocational Training Institute. An inaugural class of 108 students — including eight women — enrolled for basic science studies. Prof. Syed Alamdar Hussain Shah, the founding Principal, inaugurated the college on that very day. In those early days, hostels occupied the upper floor while classes were held on the lower floor.
March 15, 1971
The Name "Quaid-e-Azam Medical College" is Chosen
Governor Lt. Gen. Attique-ur-Rehman visited Bahawalpur to assess the new institution and proposed various names. A committee discussed alternatives including "Attique-ur-Rehman Medical College" and "Allama Iqbal Medical College," but a consensus emerged in favour of naming the college after the father of the nation. The college was renamed from its original designation of Bahawalpur Medical College to Quaid-e-Azam Medical College. The college's insignia was simultaneously designed by Dr. Laeeq Akmal of Sialkot and remains in use to this day. The first group photograph of the college, bearing the founding date, was taken on this historic day.
December 2, 1971
Foundation Stone of the Permanent Campus
The foundation stone of the permanent campus was laid by Governor Lt. Gen. Attique-ur-Rehman on a 119-acre site adjacent to Bahawal Victoria Hospital, along Circular Road, Bahawalpur. This landmark event is often cited as the college's founding date, though the actual commencement of instruction occurred on February 22 of the same year.
1975
Grand New Campus Completed
Construction of the permanent campus was completed by 1975. The magnificent building was designed by celebrated Pakistani architect Abdur Rahman Hye — making it the first indigenous medical campus designed by a Pakistani architect. The design reflects A. R. Hye's characteristic style: vaulted roofs for natural insulation, hollow walls, cross-ventilation, strategic window placement, overhangs, and shaded courtyards — all providing natural protection against Bahawalpur's arid, hot climate.
1997 & Beyond
Over 3,000 Graduates Produced
By 1997, the college had already produced 3,282 medical graduates. The institution expanded rapidly from its foundational years to become a full centre of tertiary care and postgraduate education, with fellowship and university programmes running alongside the undergraduate curriculum, with over 450 postgraduate trainees enrolled.
Today
A Premier Institution of Southern Punjab
QAMC today enrolls over 1,551 MBBS students and 216 in B.Sc (Hons) programmes. It is affiliated with the University of Health Sciences, Lahore (UHS) and recognised by the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC). The college publishes its annual magazine Quaid and boasts four male and three female hostels on its lush green campus.
— QAMC Institutional Introduction
Campus & Clinical Training
Architecture, Hospitals & Recognition
A Landmark of Pakistani Architecture
Designed by renowned architect Abdur Rahman Hye, the QAMC campus holds the distinction of being the first medical campus in Pakistan designed by a Pakistani architect. The design incorporates:
- Roof vaults that insulate and allow air to flow, reducing ceiling temperatures
- Hollow walls for thermal insulation
- Cross-ventilation and strategically placed windows
- Overhangs and shaded courtyards creating natural cool zones
- Climate-adaptive design suited to Bahawalpur's desert climate
Affiliated Teaching Hospitals
Students receive clinical training through a network of major hospitals:
- Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) — over 1,538 beds; established 1906; one of the largest tertiary care facilities in Pakistan
- Nawab Sadiq Khan Abbasi Hospital (Civil Hospital Bahawalpur)
- Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology
- College of Nursing Bahawalpur
These affiliations expose students to one of the widest diversities of clinical cases in Southern Punjab.
Recognitions & Affiliations
- Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) — national regulatory recognition
- University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore — academic affiliation
- Global recognition enabling Quaidians to practice internationally
- Overseas chapters of alumni: USA (QACANA), United Kingdom (QAMCA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Academic Programmes
QAMC offers a comprehensive range of programmes:
- MBBS (273 seats per year)
- BDS and B.Sc (Hons) Allied Health Sciences
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Postgraduate diplomas: DOMS, DTCD, DCH, DGO, DA, DLO, DCP
- MS programmes including Orthopaedics and MS Urology
- FCPS training in 16 faculties
- MCPS in Dermatology and other specialties