Islamabad: While efforts continue to stop the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT), the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has said that holding the MDCAT this week is inevitable and would commence on Oct 26 2025.
A campaign is currently circulating on social media claiming that several candidates could not apply for the test, while others were unable to prepare due to floods across the country. The MDCAT, which is mandatory for admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan, is scheduled to be held on Sunday (October 26) across the country.
A statement issued by the PMDC said that a few students had made repeated attempts to delay the MDCAT through various forums, including the high court. However, their petition had been dismissed.
“All arrangements for MDCAT 2025 have been finalised, and examination halls across all provinces have been booked.
The provincial authorities have completed all necessary preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination, including printing of papers and issuance of admit cards,” the statement said.
It further stated, “To facilitate candidates, the PMDC opened the registration portal twice and even extended the MDCAT date once to accommodate students affected by floods.
Mustafa Kamal asserts Test to be conducted on Oct 26
Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed provincial authorities and universities to ensure the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner on October 26.
Addressing a press conference at the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) head office, the minister said 140,129 candidates have registered for MDCAT this year, competing for 22,000 seats in public and private medical and dental colleges nationwide. The test will be held at 32 locations across the country, including one international center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He warned that any paper leak or irregularity would be the responsibility of the respective provincial government and university. The federal minister also appreciated PM&DC’s president, registrar, and examination division for their efforts and urged media to raise public awareness about the test.
PMDC clarified that if any university fails to ensure a fair and transparent examination or if a paper leak or deviation from the syllabus occurs, full responsibility will lie with that university.
MDCAT in PUNJAB
The MDCAT examination for admission to medical and dental colleges in Punjab will take place on October 26.
According to a letter from the Specialized Healthcare Department, the deputy commissioners in 12 districts have received instructions to finalise all necessary arrangements. The exam, held under the supervision of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), will be conducted across twelve cities in the province.
More than 50,000 candidates have registered to sit the exam this year. Rescue 1122, traffic police and other security agencies will remain on high alert at examination centres. An application has been submitted to the Home Department for the enforcement of Section 144 during the exam period.
To ensure transparency, duties are being assigned to senior faculty members, and security clearance is underway for all examination staff.
MDCAT in SINDH
Provincial authorities and universities in Sindh have been instructed by the Federal Minister for National Health Services to ensure a transparent examination process.
Security measures will be in place at all centers, including walkthrough gates, scanners, and jammers. Sindh has a total of 33,160 registered candidates for the MDCAT 2025.
The exam in Sindh will be conducted under the supervision of the Sukkur IBA Testing Service.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the test will be held under the supervision of Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar across seven districts; Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Lower Dir, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Abbottabad with 39,981 candidates appearing.
KMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq said that all departments, including district administration, police, FIA and intelligence agencies are working in complete coordination. “Any attempt at cheating or misconduct will lead to immediate cancellation and legal action,” he warned.
Increase in Fees
Separately, the PMDC has approved a 5% increase in tuition fees for private medical and dental colleges for the 2025–26 academic session, raising the annual fee to PKR 1.89 million. From the 2026–27 session onward, private institutions will be allowed to adjust fees annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and inflation rates — a move expected to make medical education more expensive in the coming years.
