December 30, 2002	Monday	Shawwal 25, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 29: As many as 1,952 candidates took the entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS programmes in seven medical colleges of Punjab here on Sunday.

The test, conducted by the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, started exactly at 9am at Siddeeq Public School, Sixth Road, Satellite Town. Prof Dr Javed Iqbal of the UET was the coordinator for the Rawalpindi centre.

Senior officials of the Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC), including its principal Prof Dr Malik H. Mubashir, Dr Abdul Majeed, Dr Syed Irfan Ahmed and Dr Masoodul Hassan Butt, were also present at the centre.

Dr Javed Iqbal of the UET told Dawn that results would be compiled in a transparent manner under the supervision of senior-most professors of the university. He hoped that the results would be declared on the given date i.e. January 18. He expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements made for the test.

The RMC principal, Dr Malik Mubashir, visited all the rooms where the test was being conducted and spoke to the candidates.

Later, talking to Dawn, the RMC principal said the test was held in an orderly manner and the arrangements were perfect.

Almost all of the candidates said the test was easy as the questions were from the textbooks. However, a few students complained that they were given question papers on which nothing was printed. Some said they received two question papers of chemistry with no biology paper. However, the UET officials immediately replaced these question papers. On the whole, the students praised the cooperative attitude of the invigilators.

The officials of the school, when contacted, said they had sent letters to the DIG, SSP, DSP and senior officials of the police for security arrangements well before time and they were reminded even on Saturday, but not a single policeman was present at the venue till the start of the test.

They said the candidates were accompanied by their parents and relatives as a result of which about 8,000 people were present outside the school, but there were no security arrangements.

They said the traffic police was also informed about the test and an official of the DSP Traffic had confirmed on Saturday that the staff would reach the venue at 7:30am to divert the traffic. However, the traffic police officials also preferred to enjoy Sunday as the off-day instead of performing duty, they added.