ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, inaugurated the newly developed MDCAT Question Bank at the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) headquarters on Thursday.
PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj, along with the Registrar and the Examination Team, briefed the Minister on preparations for the MDCAT 2025. The presentation highlighted robust measures for ensuring transparency, fairness, and security in the upcoming examination.
It was clarified that PMDC’s role is restricted to registering candidates and providing oversight, while the designated public admitting universities are solely responsible for paper-setting, administration, and evaluation. This separation of roles is designed to guarantee impartiality and merit-based admissions.
Reviewing the arrangements, Mr. Kamal stressed that no lapses should occur in MDCAT preparations and praised the introduction of the new question bank, calling it a major step toward minimizing errors and strengthening public trust.
He was informed that over 97,000 candidates had registered so far, with numbers expected to exceed 150,000 before registrations close. More than 30 exam venues nationwide have also been designated for accessibility and smooth conduct.
The Minister commended PMDC’s initiative in developing a standardized, syllabus-based question bank agreed upon by all provinces.
He advised expanding the pool of questions for admitting universities to increase flexibility in paper-setting. He also emphasized clearly delegating responsibility to provincial universities, ensuring transparency and accountability at all stages.
Highlighting governance reforms, Mr. Kamal reaffirmed the government’s full support for strengthening PMDC’s institutional capacity, digitalization, and efficiency. He called for the urgent adoption of a fully digitized system covering colleges, inspections, and related functions, ensuring minimal human interaction and maximum transparency.
Dr Rizwan Taj reiterated that PMDC is committed to safeguarding merit and excellence through reforms aimed at restoring public trust in medical admissions. He added that the newly developed question bank addresses long-standing regional disparities, creating a fair and level playing field for students across the country.
