The Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MD CAT) 2025 is taking place today across Pakistan, marking one of the largest academic assessments of the year. According to official figures, 140,125 candidates have registered for the exam, which is being conducted simultaneously at 35 centers nationwide and an additional international center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In Islamabad, two examination venues have been established at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS Building) and Bahria University to accommodate thousands of aspiring medical students. Similar arrangements have been made in Gilgit-Baltistan, where 761 candidates are appearing, and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where 2,629 students are sitting for the test. The Riyadh center is hosting 194 Pakistani candidates with support from the Pakistani Embassy.
Unlike previous years, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) is not directly administering the exam. Instead, universities have been entrusted with the responsibility, with access to the National Item Bank for question selection. Institutions have been instructed to strictly follow PM&DC standards during paper development, printing, and distribution. To ensure fairness, universities are conducting pre-exam reviews to eliminate any out-of-syllabus questions.
Security and confidentiality remain top priorities. Question papers are being unsealed only in the presence of official witnesses, while NADRA biometric verification has been made mandatory to prevent impersonation and fraud. Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, and all electronic devices are strictly banned inside exam halls. Surveillance systems, mobile jammers, scanners, and walk-through gates have been installed at every center.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the test is being held across seven districts, including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Lower Dir, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Abbottabad.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Tanveer Khaliq praised the efforts of local administrations and security agencies in ensuring smooth arrangements. He also acknowledged the cooperation of the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh for facilitating the international center.
Universities have announced that results will be declared within seven days of the examination, providing candidates with a timely outcome of their efforts.