General Physician Salary in Pakistan (2026)
Provides general medical consultation, diagnosis, and treatment.
- National average: PKR 85,250 per month across 12 cities.
- Highest-paying city: Karachi (PKR 121,000).
- Lowest-paying city: Sargodha (PKR 64,000).
- Full range: PKR 42,000 to PKR 194,000 per month.
- Take-home at the average: about PKR 84,898 per month after FY 2026-27 income tax.
Pay for a General Physician in Pakistan depends heavily on where you work. The same role earns about 89% more in Karachi than in Sargodha, and experience, employer type and skills widen the gap further. This page brings together city-by-city pay, take-home after tax, the skills employers look for and the career path, so you can benchmark an offer or plan your next move.
What does a General Physician do?
A general physician diagnoses and treats common illnesses, manages chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, refers patients to specialists and provides preventive care. Practice settings include government hospitals, private hospitals, clinics, corporate health programmes and own practice. Long hours and on-call duty are typical in the early years.
Skills, tools and qualifications
An MBBS degree and registration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council are mandatory, followed by house job. Communication, clinical judgement and the ability to work under pressure matter. Postgraduate training such as FCPS, MRCP, MCPS or a diploma improves both status and earnings.
Career path and promotion
After house job, doctors typically work as medical officers or in private practice while pursuing specialist training. Consultant and professor positions follow postgraduate qualification and experience, and many doctors seek opportunities abroad.
What drives General Physician pay?
Specialist qualifications are the largest salary driver, followed by private practice reputation, hospital type and city. Government posts offer stable pay and pension, while private hospitals and own clinics can earn more but with variable income.
How to become a General Physician in Pakistan
- Complete the required degree or diploma from a recognised institution, such as MBBS, BDS, Pharm.D, BSN or DMLT.
- Register with the relevant council (PMDC, Pakistan Nursing Council, Pharmacy Council) and complete any house job or internship.
- Gain supervised clinical or laboratory experience, and keep certifications such as BLS current.
- Apply to government vacancies via official tests and to private hospitals and labs directly.
- Choose a specialty or postgraduate pathway and plan the exams it requires.
- Build a professional reputation through consistent patient care and continuing education.
Common interview questions for General Physician roles
- How do you prioritise patients when several need attention at once?
- Describe a time you handled a difficult patient or family.
- How do you make sure infection control and safety procedures are followed?
- What is your approach to documentation and handover?
- Where do you want to specialise, and why?
General Physician Salary by City
| City | Average Salary | Range | Demand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karachi | PKR 121,000/mo | PKR 79,000 – PKR 194,000 | High | General Physician salary in Karachi → |
| Islamabad | PKR 119,000/mo | PKR 77,000 – PKR 190,000 | High | General Physician salary in Islamabad → |
| Lahore | PKR 110,000/mo | PKR 72,000 – PKR 176,000 | High | General Physician salary in Lahore → |
| Rawalpindi | PKR 99,000/mo | PKR 64,000 – PKR 158,000 | High | General Physician salary in Rawalpindi → |
| Sialkot | PKR 79,000/mo | PKR 51,000 – PKR 126,000 | High | General Physician salary in Sialkot → |
| Gujranwala | PKR 77,000/mo | PKR 50,000 – PKR 123,000 | High | General Physician salary in Gujranwala → |
| Faisalabad | PKR 75,000/mo | PKR 49,000 – PKR 120,000 | High | General Physician salary in Faisalabad → |
| Hyderabad | PKR 73,000/mo | PKR 47,000 – PKR 117,000 | High | General Physician salary in Hyderabad → |
| Peshawar | PKR 72,000/mo | PKR 47,000 – PKR 115,000 | High | General Physician salary in Peshawar → |
| Multan | PKR 68,000/mo | PKR 44,000 – PKR 109,000 | High | General Physician salary in Multan → |
| Quetta | PKR 66,000/mo | PKR 43,000 – PKR 106,000 | High | General Physician salary in Quetta → |
| Sargodha | PKR 64,000/mo | PKR 42,000 – PKR 102,000 | High | General Physician salary in Sargodha → |
Take-Home Pay: What a General Physician Actually Receives
Income tax for salaried people is withheld monthly. Under the FY 2026-27 slabs, the first Rs 600,000 a year is tax-free, then rates climb from 1% to 35%. The table converts the national average, the lowest city average and the highest city average into estimated monthly take-home pay.
| Scenario | Gross / month | Tax / month | Take-home / month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National average | PKR 85,250 | PKR 353 | PKR 84,898 | 0.4% |
| Lowest city average (Sargodha) | PKR 64,000 | PKR 140 | PKR 63,860 | 0.2% |
| Highest city average (Karachi) | PKR 121,000 | PKR 2,810 | PKR 118,190 | 2.3% |
Try your own figure in the salary tax calculator. It also shows how much the 2026-27 slabs save compared with last year.
Healthcare Careers: What Employers Pay For
Healthcare is a high-demand field because of Pakistan's population size and the shortage of trained nurses, technicians and specialists. Career stability is excellent, and overseas opportunities in Gulf countries, the UK and elsewhere shape local retention and pay.
What employers pay for
Registration with the relevant council (PMDC, Pakistan Nursing Council, Pharmacy Council), postgraduate qualifications and specialty skills drive pay. Hospitals pay more for experience in ICU, emergency, surgical and diagnostic roles. Private teaching hospitals and corporate health groups generally pay above small clinics, while government posts offer scale pay, allowances and pension.
How to negotiate
Clarify shift patterns, on-call duties, overtime or night allowances and whether training and exam fees are supported. Ask about indemnity cover, career pathways and rotation opportunities. Specialist certificates and licences give leverage, and overseas offers provide a useful benchmark for your market value.
Where growth comes from
Pursue postgraduate training (FCPS, MCPS, MRCP, MPH or nursing specialisations), build experience in a high-demand unit and keep licences current. Leadership paths include department head, matron, medical superintendent or hospital administrator, and some professionals open their own clinics or labs.
Related Healthcare Salaries
If you are comparing paths within healthcare, these related roles show where General Physician sits against its peers, using the national average across the cities we track.
| Role | National average / month | Compared with General Physician |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist | PKR 77,416 | -9% |
| Pharmacist | PKR 50,416 | -41% |
| Staff Nurse | PKR 35,000 | -59% |
| Lab Technician | PKR 30,916 | -64% |
Frequently Asked Questions About General Physician Salaries
What is the average General Physician salary in Pakistan?
Across the 12 cities we track, the average General Physician salary is about PKR 85,250 per month. The typical range runs from PKR 42,000 at the low end to PKR 194,000 for experienced professionals, depending on city, employer and skills.
Which city pays the highest General Physician salary?
Karachi pays the most in our data at about PKR 121,000 per month, while Sargodha is lowest at about PKR 64,000. That is a gap of roughly 89%, driven by employer concentration and cost of living.
What is the take-home salary of a General Physician in Pakistan?
At the national average of PKR 85,250 per month, estimated federal income tax under the FY 2026-27 slabs is about PKR 353 a month, leaving roughly PKR 84,898 in take-home pay (an effective tax rate of 0.4%). EOBI, provident fund and other deductions are extra.
How much does an entry-level General Physician earn?
Entry-level General Physician professionals typically start near the bottom of the local range, often between PKR 42,000 and a little under the city average, with the exact figure depending on the city, the employer's size and the skills you bring at hiring.
Is General Physician a well-paid career in Pakistan?
Compared with the Healthcare category, General Physician pays at the top of its peer group. Whether it is well paid for you depends on your city, your experience and whether you can move into higher-value skills or leadership.
Where can I find General Physician jobs in Pakistan?
Start with the large job boards, company career pages and LinkedIn, and use the city salary pages here to check whether an offer is competitive. Smaller cities often advertise through local networks and referrals, so building contacts in your industry matters.
Do General Physician salaries change with experience?
Yes, and by a lot. Pay usually rises in stages: entry level, then mid-level at roughly three to six years, then senior roles from about seven years. Specialisation, certifications and leadership responsibility add further steps above the experience curve.
How reliable are these salary figures?
They are estimates compiled from general market observation and updated periodically, not an official survey. Use them as a benchmark when negotiating and compare against current job adverts and offers in your city.
Guides Related to General Physician
How to Become a General Physician in Pakistan (2026): Roadmap, Salary and Skills
A realistic roadmap to becoming a general physician in Pakistan, with the education route, timeline, salary and city comparison.
Healthcare Sector Jobs in Pakistan
An overview of career paths across Pakistan's healthcare sector, beyond just doctors.