KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced the addition of new test centres for MDCAT 2025 to make the exam more accessible for students.
Under the decision, candidates from Sindh and Balochistan will now also be able to take the test in Islamabad. Jacobabad has been introduced as a new centre to facilitate students from Upper Sindh, who previously had to travel long distances.
Until now, exam centres in Sindh were limited to Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sukkur. Parents and students had long raised concerns about the cost and difficulty of travel.
A female candidate from Jacobabad welcomed the move, saying this would be the first time she could attempt the test in her own city. “Last year I had to travel to Karachi, which caused considerable stress,” she said.
“Unfamiliarity with the city’s roads and a nine-hour journey made things difficult, and the arrangements were inadequate due to the large crowd.” She added that the mental stress also affected her exam performance.
In addition, Sukkur IBA University and Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences Quetta, will set up a centre in Islamabad, which will help students from Sindh and Balochistan who are already living in the capital for preparation. Previously, many had to return to their provinces to sit the test.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sukkur IBA University Vice Chancellor Dr. Asif Ahmed Shaikh recalled that last year the university had been asked to conduct the MDCAT retake in Sindh after reports of a paper leak.
“Although we were not prepared for it, we managed to conduct the examination transparently within a short timeframe. There were no complaints of leakage, and any minor technical errors were corrected immediately,” he said.
A PMDC spokesperson added that registration for MDCAT 2025 opened on 8 August and will continue until 25 August, while late registration will be available until 1 September 2025.