KARACHI, Aug 9: The process of admissions to first year MBBS and BDS classes at the government-run medical institutions in the province would commence on Aug 10, with the sale of admission forms and prospectuses.

In all, three centres have been set up at three medical institutions, including DMC, from where students can purchase the admission forms and submit back the forms. The last date for submission of applications is Aug 31.

In all, 887 seats for MBBS and 35 seats for BDS courses have been allocated for admissions of merit basis. There are a total of 222 merit seats in DMC and 151 in SMC.

The chairman of the admission committee in the case of students applying for admission to DMC and SMC, Prof Dr Illahi Bakhsh Soomro, said admission forms can be had from DMC on payment of Rs 50. He said centre at DMC would be dealing with the entire admission process.

To a question, he said irrespective of the fact that HSC annual examination results of students domiciled at Karachi are yet to be announced, forms would be issued to every claimant without any demand of mark-sheet. However, he advised that only those students who were sure of securing 60 per cent marks in HSC examinations, which was the minimum required eligibility for admission, should purchase the forms.

He further said that admission forms and prospectus could be seen at the official web-site (www.sindmedical.edu.pk). He said at present only the prospectus would be on sale from Saturday, while entrance fee would be collected from eligible students some time later.

The Sindh health department, which governs the medical institutions in the province, would hold the entrance test for admission on Sept 15 in Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana, simultaneously.

While, not disclosing the name of test conducting agency, a health department official said at least IBA, which miserably failed to ensure the sanctity of the test last year, would not be conducting the test this year.

In view of the another cut of 10 per cent in the MBBS seats for the session 2002-2003, it is understood that the candidates aspiring for admission in government medical colleges would have to face a tough competition. First they would have to secure flying colours in intermediate examinations and then in the entrance test, which carries weightage of 50 per cent in the preparation of merit lists of admission to both MBBS and BDS classes.

The schedule of admission is as follows: Date for inviting application-Aug 10; last date for receiving applications-Aug 31; entrance test-Sep 15; display of provisional merit list- Oct 5; inviting objections on the provisional merit list- Oct 16; display of the final merit list-Oct 20 and start of classes-Nov 1.

SEMINAR: A seminar organized by the Islami Jamiat Talaba criticized the government for slashing medical seats, and demanded withdrawal of the decision.