Lahore (Tassawar News) The Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 began across Pakistan today, marking one of the largest academic assessments in the country. More than 140,000 candidates appeared in the exam to compete for limited seats in 188 public and private medical and dental colleges nationwide.
According to the University of Health Sciences (UHS), 35 examination centers were established in Pakistan, along with one international center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In Punjab alone, over 50,000 candidates participated, including 36,702 female and 13,759 male students. Major cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, and Peshawar witnessed large turnouts.
Authorities implemented Section 144 around examination centers to prevent unlawful gatherings and ensure smooth conduct. Thousands of police personnel, rescue teams, and medical officers were deployed. Candidates were strictly checked using metal detectors and walk-through gates to eliminate cheating attempts.
In Lahore, six centers hosted over 11,000 students, while in Karachi, candidates expressed concerns over long queues and early reporting times. Despite these challenges, the exam began on schedule at 10 a.m. and continued for three hours under close monitoring by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
The MDCAT results are expected to be announced within a week. Candidates will be allowed to keep their question papers and use response forms for self-scoring with the official answer key, which will be released online the same evening.
The MDCAT plays a crucial role in shaping Pakistan’s future healthcare workforce. With an increasing number of applicants each year, experts emphasize the need for fair evaluation, mental well-being support for students, and better coordination among testing bodies to enhance transparency and credibility in the medical education system.
