LHV in Pakistan stands for Lady Health Visitor: a two-year diploma that trains women to deliver primary and community healthcare, with a focus on mothers and children. Admission needs FSc Pre-Medical or Matric Science, graduates register with the Pakistan Nursing & Midwifery Council (PNMC), and the usual workplaces are BHUs, THQ hospitals and private clinics.
This guide covers the role and LHV full form, how it differs from LHW and CMW, the course subjects, scope, pay, and the 2026 admission routes, including options in Lahore.
LHV Full Form and What a Lady Health Visitor Does
The LHV full form is Lady Health Visitor. If you’re asking what is LHV in Pakistan, it’s a community-focused cadre that has existed since 1951, providing basic nursing care, maternal and child health services, and training of community workers. A ward nurse works mostly inside a hospital, while an LHV often serves the community, and families treat her as their first contact for health advice.
Typical duties include:
- Antenatal and postnatal care, including checks and advice for mothers
- Child health work such as growth monitoring, breastfeeding support and nutrition advice
- Immunisation through EPI and during vaccination campaigns
- Family planning counselling and reproductive health education
- Home visits, hygiene and sanitation education, and first aid
- Health surveys, record keeping and referral of complicated cases to the medical officer or district health office
LHV vs LHW vs CMW: What’s the Difference?
Three community health roles are often confused. Lady Health Workers (LHWs) are paid by the Department of Health and make household visits, raise awareness and send families toward health centres, including those run by LHVs. The LHW programme began in 1994 and sits outside the PNMC diploma list. A Community Midwife (CMW) holds a shorter PNMC diploma and focuses on childbirth and antenatal and postnatal care in her own community.
| LHV | CMW | LHW | |
| Training | 2-year diploma | 18-month diploma | Programme-based community training |
| Entry (PNMC) | FSc Pre-Medical or Matric Science, 45% marks | Matric (arts or science), 40% marks | Set by the programme |
| Age limit (PNMC) | 14–35 years | 14–40 years | Set by the programme |
| Focus | Maternal and child health, family planning, immunisation, health education | Antenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care | Household visits, awareness, referral |
Women who want the shorter route can look at the Community Midwife (CMW) program at NewICONHS. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) diploma is a separate support-level qualification.
LHV Course Subjects, Duration and Training
The LHV course runs two years and combines classroom theory, skills labs, hospital rotations and community fieldwork. One college’s published outline splits the LHV course subjects like this; the exact syllabus is set by the examination board, so confirm it with your college.
- Year 1: anatomy and physiology, health sciences, fundamentals of maternal health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, basics of community health
- Year 2: midwifery and obstetrics, child health and immunisation, family planning, community field placement, clinical practicals
In Punjab, the Nursing Examination Board Punjab (NEBP) examines institutions recognised by PNMC. Its policy requires PNC pre-registration for every student and at least 85% attendance in all subjects, and it limits the number of exam attempts. After the diploma, graduates apply for PNMC registration, and the registration card records basic and post-basic qualifications for nurses, LHVs and midwives.
LHV Scope in Pakistan: Jobs After LHV
The LHV scope in Pakistan stays strong because maternal and child health depends on providers who work close to families. A valid PNMC registration is what employers ask for, and Punjab’s LHV job advertisements list valid PNC registration after FSc Pre-Medical among their requirements.
Government health facilities are the main employers: BHUs, RHCs, THQ and DHQ hospitals, and district health development centres. Punjab’s Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department has advertised LHV posts on contract under health projects in recent years. Private hospitals, maternity homes, clinics and dispensaries also hire LHVs for mother-and-child services. NGOs and health-service organisations recruit them for community nutrition and MNCH programmes; one advertisement asks for PNC registration plus one to two years of community experience.
For the career after LHV diploma, experience is what moves pay and responsibility, from field work toward supervisory and programme roles. Some graduates continue their studies, but check with PNMC which programmes recognise the LHV diploma before planning a pathway.
LHV Salary in Pakistan
The LHV salary in Pakistan depends on who employs you. Government posts are paid on the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) plus allowances, and the grade varies by province and department. Project contracts carry a fixed package, while private hospitals and NGOs set their own pay. On the federal scale, minimum basic pay rises from Rs 16,280 at BS-1 to Rs 33,720 at BS-16; see the Finance Division’s revised Basic Pay Scales 2026.
| Role | Usual monthly range (PKR) |
| Fresh LHV in a private clinic, maternity home or NGO | 30,000 – 50,000 |
| LHV on a government BPS post or project contract | Set by the BPS grade or contract package; check the advertisement |
Published job listings for LHV-related roles span roughly PKR 25,000 to well above 100,000, depending on the post.
These ranges are usual market estimates, and they aren’t verified or confirmed by PNMC, NEBP, any government department or any employer. Actual pay depends on the sector, province, grade, allowances, location and experience. The only reliable number for a specific job is the one in the advertisement or offer letter.
LHV Admission 2026: Eligibility, Age Limit and How to Apply
LHV Eligibility Criteria and Age Limit
PNMC’s LHV eligibility criteria in Pakistan accept FSc Pre-Medical or Matric Science with at least 45% marks, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology compulsory. The LHV course age limit is 14 to 35 years. Admission is for women only. NEBP’s Punjab policy is stricter: it asks for 50% in FSc Pre-Medical or 55% in Matric with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Public-sector notices in Punjab ask for 50% in FSc Pre-Medical, a Punjab domicile and a maximum age of 35 on the last date of application.
How LHV Admission Works
There are three routes, and their dates differ:
- UHS Lahore, public nursing colleges. UHS is the admitting university under the Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department. Its 2025–26 notice covered 11 colleges, with the largest intake of 108 seats at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital college in Lahore. Applications closed on 12 January 2026 and classes began on 2 March 2026. Merit is decided by FSc Pre-Medical marks, with Matric marks and then age breaking ties. The notice lists an application fee of Rs 500, an admission fee of Rs 5,000 for selected candidates and no stipend.
- Health & Population Department Punjab. Its 2026–28 session opened LHV admissions at two-year nursing schools in district health development centres and THQ hospitals, with online applications until 27 April 2026 and training from 2 May 2026. The notice states no fee. See the official notice.
- Private colleges. They take their own applications and set their own LHV merit and seats. They may also use an interview or entry test.
For the next cycle, no dates have been announced yet, so watch the UHS admission notice and the Punjab health department site. The steps are broadly the same everywhere:
- Check your marks, age and domicile against the notice.
- Confirm the institution is PNMC-recognised and examined by NEBP.
- Apply online with CNIC, domicile, Matric and FSc documents.
- Check the merit and selection lists.
- Pay the fees, confirm your seat by the deadline and complete PNC pre-registration.
Private college fees vary, so compare each college’s fee schedule in writing. NewICONHS publishes its fee structure online.
LHV Course in Lahore
Anyone searching for an LHV course in Lahore has public and private options. The public route runs through UHS, with Lahore’s college at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital the biggest intake. The LHV program at NewICONHS is a private option with campuses at 50-51 A New Muslim Town and at the Quaid-e-Azam Interchange on Ring Road. Its page lists FSc Pre-Medical or Matric Science, ages 14 to 35, women only, and clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics and community health centres. As with any college, ask for proof of PNMC recognition and NEBP affiliation before paying.
FAQs
Is Matric enough for LHV?
PNMC accepts Matric Science with 45% and the three science subjects, but NEBP asks for 55%. Punjab’s public-sector notices ask for FSc Pre-Medical, so Matric holders should apply to private colleges or check each notice.
Is there a stipend during the LHV course?
UHS’s public-sector notice says no stipend is paid to LHV students. Check the specific notice for other routes.
Can men apply for the LHV course?
No. The UHS notice and the LHV programme pages describe the course as open to women only.
Is an LHV a nurse?
An LHV holds a two-year diploma focused on community, maternal and child health, which is different from the four-year BSN for nurses. PNMC registers nurses, midwives and LHVs as separate categories.
Your Next Step
An LHV diploma takes two years, needs PNMC and NEBP-recognised training, and leads to community-facing work in BHUs, THQ hospitals, clinics and NGOs. Pay depends on the employer, so check each advertisement carefully. Start by comparing your marks and age with the current notice, then confirm recognition before applying.
For admissions questions at the Lahore campuses, contact the NewICONHS admissions team or call 0330-5077777.
