ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) decision to restrict candidates of the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) to their respective provinces has sparked fresh controversy.

Candidates and their parents argue that, according to the Constitution of Pakistan, children automatically inherit the domicile of the province of their parents.

They fear the decision could compromise the safety and well-being of students, many of whom have seldom traveled to their native areas. Moreover, children of armed forces personnel, who are frequently posted to different parts of the country, are also likely to be affected.

It is worth noting that approximately 200,000 candidates sit MDCAT each year. Clearing the test is mandatory for admission to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan.

PMDC has issued a notification outlining the new policy for the upcoming MDCAT scheduled for the last week of September or the first week of October this year.

Parents fear decision could compromise safety of students, many ofwhom have seldom visited their native areas

“Candidates will be allowed to appear in MDCAT only in their province/region of domicile. The FSc/Intermediate (pre-medical) or equivalent score must be at least 65pc for admission into MBBS/BDS programmes in the country w.e.f. Session 2025–2026. Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, shall be the only international venue for MDCAT. The MDCAT curriculum/syllabus is already available on the PMDC website,” stated the notification issued by PMDC Registrar Dr Shaista Faisal.

Farooq Sheikh, who belongs to Sindh, told Dawn that he had been working in the federal capital for over two decades.

“My father’s domicile was of Sindh, so I also got my domicile from the same province. My children were born in Islamabad, but they also hold the domicile of Sindh. They received their education in the federal capital, but under the PMDC’s decision I’ll have to take my daughter to Karachi or Hyderabad to appear in MDCAT. Our native house is in Sukkur, so we’ll need to stay in a hotel, which will add to my financial burden. Previously, students could appear in the entry test from any centre or province. I was hopeful my daughter could take the test in Islamabad,” he said.

Mutahir Shah from Balochistan said the decision was especially troubling for those holding Balochistan’s domicile.

“The PMDC has put our children’s lives at risk. Most people have stopped traveling to Balochistan due to security concerns, as India is very active there. But PMDC is now compelling us to go to Quetta with our children. Traveling by road is difficult, and not everyone can afford air travel,” he explained.

“Many parents may not be able to get leave from work or they may have other children appearing in exams in Islamabad at the same time. The federal government should intervene and ensure that candidates are at least allowed to appear in MDCAT from Islamabad. It seems the PMDC makes decisions without considering the consequences or the hardships faced by candidates,” Mr Shah said.

A PMDC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was made following a recommendation from a parliamentary committee, which called for a uniform syllabus and equal difficulty level for candidates from all provinces.

“We’re frequently criticised for discrepancies in test difficulty across provinces. Sometimes, MDCAT in one province is perceived as easier than in others, giving an unfair advantage. So we’ve decided that candidates must take the test in their province of domicile,” he said.

“However, we are open to positive and justifiable suggestions to ensure smooth conduct of MDCAT,” he added.

A faculty member, also requesting anonymity, said PMDC had already decided that this year’s MDCAT will be syllabus-based rather than textbook-based.

“We’ve also heard that PMDC has created a question bank and will prepare the paper itself. So it should ensure a uniform question paper nationwide instead of inconveniencing students,” he said.

“There should be a common question paper and candidates should be allowed to take the test wherever they choose. If necessary, PMDC could include a clause requiring students to appear from the nearest city where they completed their FSc. Previously, the now-defunct Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) conducted MDCAT with 30 different versions of the test and a new paper was issued daily, yet no one objected,” he added.

When contacted, PMDC Registrar Dr Shaista Faisal acknowledged that the decision may be frustrating for parents and students. She stated that the issue would be discussed at the next council meeting and expressed hope that a viable solution would be found.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2025