KARACHI:
Female candidates overwhelmingly dominated this year’s medical and dental college admission test (MDCAT 2025), with three times as many girls as boys in Karachi. Of the 10,296 registered candidates, 7,767 were women and 2,529 men.
Education experts said the trend reflected a growing passion among young women for the medical profession and their continued academic excellence in intermediate examinations.
The exam was held on Sunday at only two centers in Karachi – Ojha Campus of Dow University and NED University, a decision that drew criticism from parents and students who complained of inadequate arrangements.
Candidates were asked to report at 6:30 a.m., but the three-hour paper began at 10 a.m., forcing thousands of people to stand in long queues for hours under the open sky.
Parents described the situation as disorganized and distressing, especially as traffic congestion caused by the ongoing BRT project near NED University worsened access to the centres. “We left home before dawn, but waited for hours to enter,” said a Gulshan-e-Hadeed student. Parents urged authorities to suspend traffic or designate alternative routes during such important exams.
Across the country, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) reported that 140,125 candidates appeared in MDCAT 2025 for 22,000 seats in public and private universities.
In Sindh, 32,917 candidates (including 22,098 women and 10,819 men) were enrolled, reaffirming the continued dominance of women in medical education. At NED University 4,003 girls and 1,197 boys attended, while Dow University hosted 3,764 girls and 1,332 boys.
The test consisted of 15% easy, 70% moderate and 15% difficult questions. There were no negative marks and candidates were able to take the questionnaires home.
Strict security and surveillance measures were maintained at both centres, including biometric verification, metal detectors and CCTV monitoring. The questionnaires were opened following a five-step security protocol, and even the transport vehicles were equipped with cameras.
Medical camps were also established to help students suffering from stress, fatigue or low blood pressure.
According to Dr Abeera of the DHO Eastern District, 147 candidates, mostly women, were treated for headaches, nausea and weakness during the exam. Health Secretary Rehan Baloch also visited the country to review the arrangements. Despite these measures, parents and students said that mismanagement overshadowed the entire exercise. Only one entrance door was opened at Dow’s Ojha campus, leading to chaos and overcrowding. Many parents, who were not familiar with the location of the gate, had difficulty arriving on time.
Students complained that only two centers for a city the size of Karachi was unreasonable. Those coming from distant towns like Lyari, Keamari and Landhi said they faced high transport fares and long waits. “We paid Rs 9,000 for the exam, but they made us wait for hours,” said Fizza of Korangi, who appeared for the MDCAT for the second time.
In NED, ongoing construction and the absence of pedestrian bridges made it difficult for candidates to cross streets safely. “Students were seen walking through construction sheds to get to the center,” another parent said.
Despite the logistical problems, many students described the article as fair and balanced. Others, however, said that some chemistry questions were difficult and that the heat inside the halls made it difficult to concentrate.
Sukkur IBA testing service provided all office supplies and supervised logistics. Mobile phones, smart watches and electronic devices were strictly prohibited. Police, traffic wardens and emergency teams were deployed outside both centres, but parents said crowd management remained poor.
The PMDC announced that MDCAT 2025 results will be declared within a week, with a recheck facility available within three days of the results being released. A detailed analytical report will be submitted within 10 days.
The council also clarified that it will not oversee admissions, which will be handled by universities and provincial authorities, ensuring that the entire process will remain transparent and merit-based.
