The MDCAT 2026 examination is underway across Pakistan, with more than 138,000 candidates taking the medical and dental college entrance test on Sunday, September 20. According to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), 138,158 candidates registered for this year’s examination.
The test began at 10 am and will continue for three hours. Candidates reported to their designated examination centres early in the morning as universities and local administrations completed arrangements for the nationwide test.
MDCAT 2026 Held in 34 Cities
The examination is taking place in 34 cities across Pakistan, along with an international centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The PMDC has coordinated with universities across the country to conduct the test under security and monitoring arrangements.
Punjab has the largest number of registered candidates, with 49,198 to 49,201 applicants reported by different sources based on the latest university data. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 38,845 candidates, while more than 34,000 students are taking the test in Sindh.
In Sindh, examination centres are operating in Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Larkana, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad. Karachi has two major centres at NED University and Dow University’s Ojha Campus.
Strict Security and Examination Measures
Authorities have introduced strict security arrangements at examination centres. Police and other security personnel have been deployed around several centres, while examination papers reached venues under controlled arrangements.
Candidates cannot bring mobile phones or other digital devices into the examination halls. They must also remain inside their centres until the examination ends and return their question papers before leaving.
The PMDC has also arranged separate waiting areas for parents and guardians. Medical teams, Rescue 1122 personnel and other emergency services are available at selected centres to deal with any urgent situation.
MDCAT 2026 Was Previously Postponed
This year’s MDCAT was originally scheduled for August 16, but the PMDC later moved it to September 20. The change followed internet disruptions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and security concerns at the time. The council subsequently reopened registration, allowing more than 2,000 additional candidates to register.
The latest examination marks another major step for students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan. Results and admission processes will follow according to the schedules of the relevant authorities and universities.
