The Senate Standing Committee on National Health has called for a postponement of the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), citing the severe disruptions caused by devastating floods across the country.
The demand was led by PTI Senator Mirza Afridi during Thursday’s meeting, where he urged the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to delay the exam, currently set for October 5. Afridi highlighted that widespread destruction in Punjab and the advancing floods in Sindh have left many prospective candidates struggling to prepare.
“The floods have wreaked havoc in Punjab and are now spreading into Sindh, impacting a significant number of students,” Afridi stressed. He recommended rescheduling the entrance test until November to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants, particularly those from flood-hit areas.
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Responding to the concerns, PMDC President Mustafa Kamal explained that while the council designs the exam paper, the test itself is conducted by provincial medical universities. He assured the committee that a consultative meeting with universities will be held on September 10 to review the situation and reach a collective decision.