ISLAMABAD: More than 140,000 candidates are competing for 22,000 seats in medical and dental colleges today (Sunday) as the mandatory Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) is being conducted nationwide at 32 venues, including an international centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Several institutions are organising the test, including the University of Health Sciences in Lahore, Sukkur IBA University, Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences in Quetta, and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University in Islamabad.
Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President Dr Rizwan Taj said that all participating universities had assured him that the necessary arrangements for the test have been made.
“All universities conducting the MDCAT were advised to thoroughly review and implement all required arrangements to ensure the fair, transparent, and secure conduct of the examination,” Mr Taj said. He added that security measures include the installation of jammers to block unauthorised electronic devices.
Over 140,000 hopefuls compete for 22,000 spots
“Examination venues will be equipped with proper seating arrangements and adequate facilities to accommodate all candidates comfortably,” he said.
“Furthermore, universities are instructed to make appropriate arrangements for heating or cooling of the examination halls according to weather conditions and to ensure that drinking water is readily available to all candidates,” he added.
To ensure transparency and proper record-keeping, specific protocols have been established for the exam materials.
“Universities shall provide bubble sheets with carbon copies to the candidates and must ensure complete secrecy and confidentiality of all question papers,” Mr Taj stated.
“Question papers shall be opened only in the presence of witnesses to maintain transparency. After the conclusion of the examination, all bubble sheets must be collected promptly and kept in a safe and secured location”, he added
He also mentioned that the original examination papers of the MDCAT would be retained by the respective universities for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of the result declaration.
Mr Taj emphasised a swift and transparent process for releasing results. The official answer key will be uploaded to university websites immediately after the exam, with full results expected within one week.
Mr Taj said that a comprehensive post-hoc analysis report had to be prepared and submitted within 10 days of the announcement of the final results. He further mentioned that universities were required to provide a facility for the re-checking of marks within three days following the announcement of the results.
Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2025
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