The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) announced on Wednesday that it is moving toward full digitalization of its operations while also introducing a question bank for the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
According to officials, the regulator has begun shifting its systems to technology-based platforms to cut down human involvement in key processes such as student registration, monitoring, and college inspections. The move, they said, is aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency in medical education oversight.
At a briefing in Islamabad, PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj and the examination department highlighted details of the MDCAT 2025. They explained that while the council will handle registrations and provide supervision, the actual test will be set, conducted, and marked by public universities, a system meant to ensure impartiality.
The newly developed MDCAT question bank is based on a uniform syllabus agreed upon by all provinces. Officials said it will help reduce mistakes and address regional concerns by giving all applicants the same standard of preparation.
So far, more than 97,000 students have signed up for the exam, and the number is expected to reach 150,000 before registration closes. Thirty test centers have been designated across the country.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, who inaugurated the question bank, called the initiative “a step toward restoring public confidence” and warned that lapses in fairness would not be tolerated.