ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM\&DC) has announced the rescheduling of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 to October 26, in response to the challenges faced by students in flood-affected areas. The exam, initially set for October 5, will now take place nationwide, including an additional testing center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A total of 140,071 candidates have registered for the exam, with the largest number of candidates coming from Punjab, where 50,443 students are registered under the University of Health Sciences in Lahore. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa follows with 39,964 candidates through Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, while Sindh has 33,160 registered under Sukkur IBA Testing Service. Balochistan has 10,278 candidates, who will take the test under Bolan University of Medical & Health Sciences in Quetta.
In addition, 1,146 candidates from Islamabad, 3,322 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and 1,564 from Gilgit-Baltistan will appear under Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) in Islamabad. Overseas, 194 candidates will be testing through SZABMU in Riyadh.
PM\&DC emphasized that despite the involvement of both federal and provincial universities in conducting the exam, a uniform syllabus and item bank have been established to ensure fairness. Universities are required to strictly follow PM\&DC guidelines for exam paper setting and result declaration.
To maintain transparency and prevent malpractice, the PM\&DC is coordinating with the FIA, IB, and police. Candidates have been advised to rely solely on official communications from PM\&DC or their respective universities and to disregard any false information circulating in the media.
PM\&DC President Dr. Rizwan Taj has urged universities to facilitate candidates and ensure the smooth administration of the exam. He also emphasized the importance of merit and hard work in achieving success and encouraged students to prepare with integrity.
The MDCAT remains a crucial requirement for admission into medical and dental colleges across Pakistan, serving as an essential step in selecting qualified candidates for the healthcare profession.
