ISLAMABAD/QUETTA: Around 160,000 candidates appeared in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) nationwide on Sunday, amid accusations of mismanagement and malpractice, including claims of paper leaks.
Sources within the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) informed Dawn that they had anticipated such issues based on past experiences.
“We are verifying complaints received from across the country. Once the complaints are analyzed, a detailed report will be issued, and appropriate action will be taken,” the sources said.
In Sindh, rumors of a paper leak surfaced early in the morning, but Dow University of Health Sciences reassured candidates that these reports were baseless.
At least 50 people were arrested in Quetta for cheating, and electronic devices were recovered from 11 candidates in Islamabad.
A faculty member, speaking anonymously, criticized the allegations of malpractice, stating that multiple stakeholders were involved due to the test being outsourced. After the PMDC outsourced the exam to several universities, some of these institutions further outsourced it.
“The PMDC charged Rs8,000 per candidate, then instructed universities to conduct the test while keeping a portion of the fee. Some universities, in turn, outsourced the test to others, which has created a situation where no one takes responsibility,” the faculty member said.
Comparisons were made between the PMDC-organized test and the one conducted by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) for army-run schools. A candidate noted they paid Rs6,000 for NUMS, while PMDC charged Rs8,000, adding that the quality of NUMS answer sheets and refreshments was better.
Cheating arrests
In Islamabad, district administration teams visited various test centers, where, despite Section 144 being enforced, large crowds gathered outside. Authorities recovered electronic devices from 11 candidates. In Quetta, police registered cases against over 50 candidates for cheating and arrested two individuals accused of facilitating the process.
“Among those arrested were 12 candidates from Balochistan,” police said, adding that mobile phones and Bluetooth devices were confiscated. Those involved were taken to the Airport police station, with most of the detainees hailing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Bolan Medical College University Vice Chancellor Dr. Shabbir Lehri and police confirmed the arrests, stating that the devices were used to assist in solving the exam, with help from two individuals in Quetta and a retired Federal Public Service Commission employee in Islamabad.
The MDCAT center for Balochistan candidates was set up at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering, and Management Sciences, with over 5,000 candidates appearing for the test.
A total of 167,744 students took the MDCAT on Sunday. Provincial breakdowns included 58,380 students in Punjab, 38,678 in Sindh, 42,329 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5,806 in Balochistan, 18,408 in Islamabad, 3,145 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 739 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 259 candidates in international centers. The test was conducted at 30 venues across Pakistan, AJK, and international centers in Dubai and Riyadh.
