PDA mobilizes provincial and city chapters to expand membership before polls

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) has rolled out a nationwide campaign to broaden its membership base, urging its provincial chapters and city branches to play an active role in bringing more dentists into the organization ahead of the upcoming elections.

In a formal letter circulated to office bearers across the country, the PDA Central Council emphasized that the association’s strength and influence are inseparable from the size and participation of its membership. The communication, signed by PDA President Dr. Khurshid Ahmad, reaffirms PDA’s position as the principal professional body representing dentists in Pakistan and underscores its responsibility to protect professional interests, uphold ethical standards, and promote dental education and public oral health.

The Central Council has directed local leadership to focus especially on young graduates, postgraduate trainees, academic staff, and private practitioners who are not yet part of the association. Chapters and branches have been asked to personally reach out to non-member dentists in their areas and to remove procedural hurdles that discourage enrollment.

According to the letter, active membership enables dentists to benefit from professional representation, continuing education opportunities, advocacy platforms, and networking forums. At the same time, a broader membership base strengthens PDA’s standing with regulators, academic institutions, and government authorities, giving the profession a stronger collective voice in policy and professional matters.

The membership drive has also been linked directly with the forthcoming PDA elections. The Central Council has clarified that only active members will be eligible to vote and that March 15, 2026, will be the cutoff date for securing voting rights through membership registration. Membership forms are available on the official PDA website to support faster and more accessible enrollment.

Branches and chapters have further been instructed to promote the practical benefits of joining the association, streamline registration procedures, and encourage new members to participate in PDA’s scientific, academic, and community-based activities. The leadership noted that engagement at the grassroots level will be decisive in shaping the association’s future direction.

Reflecting on the broader objective of the initiative, PDA leadership described membership expansion as a key step in rebuilding professional unity and restoring the association’s role as a credible and representative national body.

In his message, Dr. Khurshid Ahmad stressed that strengthening PDA is not only about increasing numbers but about nurturing an active and responsible professional community. He added that a united association is better placed to improve oral healthcare delivery, raise academic standards, and advocate effectively for the rights and development of dentists across Pakistan.

The Central Council expressed optimism that coordinated efforts by provincial and city leadership will significantly increase membership and help lay a stronger institutional foundation for the association’s next phase.