Students also demand reversal of attendance requirement, and inclusion in decision-making committees
Medical students have warned of a countrywide protest if their demands, including the reduction of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test passing marks from 65% to 50%, are not met within 10 days.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has clarified that there will be no further delay in the medical entrance examination.
Students on Wednesday staged a protest outside the PMDC headquarters in Islamabad, voicing concerns over recent policy changes related to the MDCAT. The protesters presented three key demands and warned that a nationwide protest would follow if their concerns remained unaddressed.
The demonstration was organised by a student group, whose leader told reporters during a press conference that students exercised their constitutional right to peaceful protest and had conveyed their concerns to relevant PMDC officials.
“We had three main demands,” the student representative said. “First, the increase in the MDCAT passing percentage from 50% to 65% should be reversed. Second, the attendance requirement raised from 78% to 85% must be brought back to its previous level. Third, student representatives should be included in decision-making committees concerning student affairs.”
Read more: MDCAT 2026: higher eligibility criteria, revised exam structure
He added that while discussions were held with PMDC officials, no agreement was reached. “During the protest, police baton-charged students and confiscated some of our belongings. Although some detained students have been released, our possessions are still in police custody,” he claimed.
The student representative announced a 10-day deadline for the PMDC to issue an official notification addressing their demands. “If no action is taken within ten days, we will expand our protest across the country,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council issued a statement clarifying its position. The council said that a small group of students had made repeated attempts to delay the MDCAT exam, including filing a petition in the High Court — which was dismissed.
“All necessary arrangements for MDCAT 2025 have been completed,” the PMDC said. “Examination halls have been booked across all provinces, and provincial authorities have finalised preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the test.”
The statement added that printing of question papers and issuance of admit cards were underway. To facilitate candidates, the registration portal was opened twice, and the exam date was once extended to accommodate students affected by floods.
The PMDC further stated that the court had rejected another plea seeking further postponement of the exam. “Candidates were provided ample time to prepare, and over 140,000 students have already registered,” the statement said, stressing that any further delay in holding the MDCAT was not possible.
