The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) announced that more than 140,000 candidates have registered for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025. The test, earlier set for October 5, has now been postponed to October 26. The decision was made to support students affected by floods in different regions.
According to official figures, 140,071 students completed registration this year. Provincial universities will conduct the test across Pakistan, while an international center has been set up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Punjab recorded the highest number of applicants, with 50,443 registrations under the University of Health Sciences, Lahore. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed with 39,964 candidates registered through Khyber Medical University, Peshawar.
Sindh saw 33,160 applicants under the Sukkur IBA Testing Service. In Balochistan, 10,278 candidates enrolled through Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta.
Other regions also reported strong participation. Islamabad registered 1,146 candidates, Azad Jammu and Kashmir recorded 3,322, and Gilgit-Baltistan saw 1,564, all under Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University. Meanwhile, 194 students signed up for the Riyadh center.
PMDC confirmed that universities will conduct the test, not the Council itself. However, the Council developed a uniform syllabus and a standardized question bank after consultation with stakeholders. Universities must follow these guidelines while preparing papers and announcing results.
To ensure fairness, PMDC is coordinating with the FIA, IB, and police. Officials said strict action would be taken against any attempt at cheating or malpractice. Students have been advised to follow only official instructions and ignore false reports circulating in the media.
PMDC President Dr. Rizwan Taj urged universities to provide the best arrangements for candidates at both provincial and international centers. He encouraged students to focus on hard work, stressing that success depends on merit and effort. He also warned against unfair means, reminding students that only preparation and dedication will lead to admission.
MDCAT remains the mandatory entrance test for medical and dental colleges across Pakistan. With the exam now set for October 26, candidates have gained extra time to prepare for one of the country’s toughest academic challenges.