ISLAMABAD: While it is feared that the preparations of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) candidates may affect due to ongoing tension, suspension of internet and elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has vowed to provide all possible facilitation to the candidates.
In this regard Secretary Health AJK Brig Aamer Reza Tippu and Chairman Joint Admission Committee Prof. Dr. Fasal Bashir met the President PMDC Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, Registrar PMDC retired Brig Rehan Naqvi and Director Admission Affairs PMDC Dr. Imdad Ali Khushuk to discuss issues relating to the registration of AJK students for the MDCAT.
The MDCAT is mandatory for getting admission in medical and dental colleges of Pakistan.
Every year upto 200,000 candidates appear in the test and around 25,000 of them secure seats in public sector and private medical and dental colleges.
During the meeting, the AJK Secretary Health highlighted the difficulties being faced by students from AJK in completing their MDCAT registration due to the prolonged internet shutdown in the region.
The secretary requested the PMDC to facilitate the affected students and ensure that no eligible candidate is deprived of the opportunity to appear in the examination.
The PMDC president informed the delegation that PMDC had already taken several special measures to facilitate students from AJK.
He further stated that the Pakistan government remained committed to ensuring that all eligible students from AJK were able to appear in the MDCAT.
The PMDC president also highlighted that, in view of the exceptional circumstances, the registration deadline was extended twice with the normal registration fee—from July 8 to July 13, and subsequently from July 13 to July 23 to provide maximum convenience to students from AJK.
It was informed that, to facilitate AJK students, PMDC extended the MDCAT registration deadline with the normal registration fee, acceptance of registration applications through WhatsApp, email, and physical submission were also allowed.
“Moreover students experiencing registration difficulties may directly contact PMDC, which will provide the necessary assistance to enable them to appear in the MDCAT. Establishment of a special MDCAT Examination Centre in Islamabad for students from AJK has been arranged to facilitate their participation in the MDCAT. PMDC has also issued a public notice and designated a focal person to assist AJK students with registration and examination-related matters,” Dr Taj said.
The president and registrar PMDC assured the Secretary Health AJK and the Chairman of the Joint Admission Committee of their full cooperation. During the meeting, they also agreed in principle to establish a PMDC Sub-Office in AJK to improve access to PMDC services for students and healthcare professionals in the region.
The proposal will be placed before the PMDC Governing Body for formal approval.
Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2026
