KARACHI, Oct 6: As many as 10,819 students have applied for admission to first year MBBS and BDS classes of the government medical colleges and universities of the province.

The entry test for applicants will be conducted by the Bahria University on Oct 10 at four centres at Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana and Sukkur. In comparison to last year's figure, there is an increase of about 20 per cent in the number of applicants.

Talking to Dawn Captain Ahmed Zaheer of the Bahria University said on Tuesday that the increase in admission applications at Karachi centre was nominal, while in the case of Hyderabad centre, the number of applicants had increased from 2,697 in 2003-2004 session to 3,720.

He said a total of 3,155 applications were received at Karachi, while another 3,720 at Hyderabad, 2,113 at Larkana and 1,831 at Sukkur. In all, there are 952 merit seats for admission to MBBS and BDS classes at three government-run college and two universities.

A total of 510 seats, including 404 merit seats, have been allocated for two colleges of the Dow University of Health Sciences. The test will be conducted at four centres, namely PNS Bahadur, Stadium Road, Karachi; Public School, Latifabad, Hyderabad; Police Training School, Larkana; and Sardar Ghulam Mohammad Khan Mahar Medical College, Sukkur.