ISLAMABAD: The Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 is being conducted today across Pakistan and overseas, with more than 140,125 candidates appearing in the examination organized by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC).
A total of 35 examination centers have been established nationwide, while an international center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been set up to facilitate overseas Pakistani students. Registration took place from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM, after which examination halls were sealed. The three-hour multiple-choice test, carrying 180 marks, is being held from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
In the federal capital Islamabad, large numbers of candidates appeared at Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University and Bahria University centers.
In Punjab, the test is being conducted in 27 centers across 12 cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Rahim Yar Khan. Nearly 50,000 candidates are taking the exam in the province — 13,000 male and 37,000 female students — with Lahore hosting the highest number, around 12,000 participants.
Strict security measures have been enforced, including a ban on mobile phones and electronic devices for both candidates and staff. Section 144 has been imposed around examination centers to prevent unauthorized entry. Senior faculty members and officers from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) are supervising the examination process.
In Sindh, the MDCAT is being held at Dow University Ojha Campus and NED University in Karachi, as well as centers in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Sukkur. Despite some inconvenience caused by traffic congestion and construction work near University Road, the examination commenced smoothly under tight security.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Khyber Medical University (KMU) is conducting the test in seven districts, including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Lower Dir, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Abbottabad, with 39,981 candidates participating. To assist students, Peshawar’s BRT service began operations early at 6:00 AM, as parking near test centers was restricted. Section 144 was also enforced to maintain order and prevent public gatherings near venues.
