ISLAMABAD – President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, has instructed that the MDCAT exam on September 22 be conducted smoothly.
During a meeting with vice chancellors of the public universities authorized to oversee the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), he emphasized the need for strict oversight to prevent malpractice, cheating, or any incidents during the examination.
Prof. Dr. Taj requested the enforcement of Section 144 to ensure a secure and transparent examination process nationwide. This regulation prohibits public gatherings and the use of electronic devices, aiming to deter cheating and disruptions. Law enforcement agencies will ensure compliance, with violators facing legal and disciplinary repercussions. The universities informed PMDC about the preparations for the exam, which will take place in 30 cities, including two international centers in Riyadh and Dubai. They confirmed that admit cards have been issued and all necessary arrangements have been finalized, involving relevant authorities and security agencies to ensure a foolproof examination with maintained secrecy and transparency.
To uphold the integrity of the MDCAT, the PMDC stressed the importance of transparency and fairness in this crucial step for selecting future medical and dental professionals. Key directives from the PMDC President included comprehensive verification and identification of candidates, deployment of invigilators and monitoring teams to uphold examination standards, use of modern surveillance technology in exam centers to deter malpractice, and implementation of tamper-proof systems for secure handling of exam materials. Additionally, universities were instructed to take appropriate action against anyone caught cheating or engaging in other misconduct during the exam. Dr. Taj highlighted the significance of this examination in selecting the most qualified candidates for medical and dental education in Pakistan.
To maintain the standards of the country’s medical and dental education system, the PMDC urged all stakeholders to collaborate for a smooth and successful MDCAT. Universities conducting the exam have set up centers including Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University with 33 centers, University of Health Sciences (UHS) with 26 centers, Khyber Medical University (KMU) with 13 centers, and Dow University of Health Sciences with six centers. A total of 167,744 students are registered for the MDCAT exam.
The registration breakdown by province includes: Punjab with 58,380 students, Sindh with 38,678, KPK with 42,329, Balochistan with 5,806, ICT with 18,408, AJK with 3,145, Gilgit-Baltistan with 739, and 259 international students. Candidates were advised to avoid unethical behavior during the exam, as strict penalties will be enforced against those attempting to cheat or engage in fraudulent activities. The council stressed the importance of adhering to established rules and guidelines to ensure the credibility and fairness of the MDCAT.
Any misconduct or violations will result in disciplinary actions, including barring candidates from future examinations.
The meeting was attended by vice chancellors, including Prof. A.W. Rathore (VC UHS Lahore), Prof. Dr. Saeed Qureshi (VC Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi), Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq (VC Khyber Medical University Peshawar), Prof. Dr. Tariq Iqbal (VC Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad), and Zafar Ullah (Registrar Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences Quetta).
