Balochistan Dismisses 72 Doctors via AI Attendance System

The Balochistan Health Department dismissed 72 doctors from government service on Saturday, October 31, 2026, for prolonged unauthorized absence, utilizing an artificial intelligence-based attendance system to enforce workplace presence across public medical facilities.

• The Balochistan Health Department dismissed 72 doctors on October 31, 2026, bringing total departmental dismissals to 200 employees.
• Official notifications state the action was executed under Section 4(B)(viii) of the Balochistan Employees’ Efficiency and Disciplinary Act (BEEDA), 2011.
• Provincial authorities report that Rs410 million has been deducted from employee salaries due to absenteeism, with 11,000 explanation notices issued.

The Balochistan Health Department Dismissals

The dismissals target medical officers in BPS-17 and senior medical officers in BPS-18, according to an official notification issued by the Balochistan health secretary. The administrative action pushes the total number of dismissed health department workers to 200. Alongside these dismissals, the department has issued explanation notices to 11,000 employees for disciplinary and attendance violations, while departmental proceedings remain active against another 800 workers.

Financial penalties tied to the absenteeism crackdown have reached substantial figures. Health department officials cited by Dawn noted that Rs410 million has so far been deducted from employee salaries over unauthorized absences. The deployment of the attendance system marks a direct effort by provincial authorities to curb chronic non-attendance among medical personnel stationed in government hospitals and health centers.

Implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Attendance Tracking

The automated enforcement relies on an artificial intelligence-based attendance system ordered by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to reform provincial health administration. Inside AI reported that the technology likely uses biometric or location verification data to track staff presence, addressing a long-standing pattern where doctors assigned to remote rural facilities routinely reside in urban centers instead.

Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar stated that the affected doctors received multiple notices directing them to report for duty but failed to respond. “We have zero tolerance for absenteeism and negligence among medical staff and doctors in the performance of their official duties,” Kakar said, as quoted by Dawn, adding that the government aims to deliver healthcare services directly to the public.

Mass Dismissals Risk Aggravating Physician Shortages in Balochistan

The scale of the disciplinary sweep highlights severe structural strains within Balochistan’s healthcare network. Inside AI noted that while the monitoring technology successfully identifies absenteeism, mass dismissals risk aggravating existing physician shortages if vacant positions remain unfilled without rapid recruitment strategies. Legal challenges could arise regarding the operational accuracy of automated tracking under the BEEDA 2011 legislation.

Public dissatisfaction regarding absent medical professionals remains high across Pakistan’s largest province by area. However, critics point out that digital attendance monitoring tracks physical presence rather than clinical output, leaving broader logistical barriers—such as shortages of essential medicines, surgical equipment, and supporting clinical staff—unresolved across provincial medical facilities.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.