Saira Imran The MDCAT Test 2025 began across Pakistan for admissions to medical and dental colleges. Authorities enforced Section 144 around exam centers and deployed police officers to ensure strict security. Health officials also remained present at the sites.
A total of 188 government and private medical and dental colleges are participating in this year’s MDCAT. Authorities set up thirty-five examination centers nationwide and established one international center in Riyadh. Punjab hosts 46 centers, Sindh 17, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 11, and both Azad Kashmir and Balochistan have one each.
In Punjab, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) conducted the MDCAT in 12 cities. Around 50,461 candidates appeared — 36,702 girls and 13,759 boys — at 27 centers across the province.
Strict Security and Supervision
Authorities implemented tight security measures. Police forces guarded all centers, and district administration officials supervised the delivery of exam papers. Over 3,263 school teachers served as invigilators, while 165 higher education teachers acted as superintendents and 347 as deputy superintendents. All staff received clearance from the Special Branch before deployment.
In Lahore, authorities established six centers — four for girls and two for boys. Out of 11,906 total candidates, 8,799 were female and 3,107 male. Authorities made similar arrangements in other cities, including Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Rawalpindi.
Examination Process
The test started at 10 a.m., and candidates began arriving as early as 8 a.m. Entry gates closed at 9 a.m. to maintain discipline. Staff frisked students and made them pass through walk-through gates and metal detectors to prevent cheating.
Rescue 1122, NADRA, Civil Defense, and Health Department teams remained on-site to provide emergency support. District authorities provided waiting areas for parents outside the centers.
Officials from the Health Department, deputy commissioners, and principals of medical institutions monitored the process. Representatives from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) were also present.
Result Announcement and Objections
The UHS Vice-Chancellor announced that the official MDCAT Test 2025 result will be released within a week and allowed candidates to take their question papers with them. They can verify their responses using the carbon copy and answer key provided.
Students can submit objections through the online portal until 6 p.m., and UHS will release the final answer key by 10 p.m. after reviewing all queries.
Mixed Reactions in Karachi
In Karachi, the three-hour test concluded at 1 p.m. However, several parents and candidates expressed dissatisfaction with management. They said the management asked candidates to report at 6:30 a.m. even though the test began at 10 a.m., which caused long queues and exhaustion. Parents also complained about poor arrangements and lack of shade in the hot weather.
Challenges in Rawalpindi
In Rawalpindi, officials stopped some students from entering despite their arrival just two minutes late, affecting candidates from Mianwali, Bhakkar, and nearby cities. Traffic jams caused by security routes also delayed many students, who later appealed to the commissioner for help.
Other Regions
- Over 3,000 students in Larkana took the test for 300 seats at Chandka Medical and Asifa Dental Colleges.
- Faisalabad recorded 5,824 participants at DPS and Government College University centers under tight police security.
- Meanwhile, nearly 40,000 candidates across Peshawar and other Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts appeared for the exam. Authorities used CCTV cameras, mobile jammers, and advanced monitoring systems to ensure transparency.
- In Hyderabad, more than 5,000 students appeared at the Public School Center under heavy police supervision.
Conclusion
The MDCAT Test 2025 was conducted successfully across Pakistan under tight security. Despite a few complaints about management in some areas, the process remained largely smooth. The final result will be declared within a week, marking an important step for thousands of future medical and dental students.
