{
  "id": 7232941,
  "title": "Over 138,000 candidates to take MDCAT on Sept 20",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/over-138-000-candidates-to-take-mdcat-on-sept-20",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T03:20:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2029776/over-138000-candidates-to-take-mdcat-on-sept-20"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "More than 138,000 students will sit for the 2026 Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) on September 20, according to the latest figures released by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). This figure includes 2,063 candidates who registered after the test's initial postponement, which was due to internet suspensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and ongoing tensions in the region. The test will be administered by five participating universities across Pakistan.\n\nThe University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, will conduct the examination for the largest number of candidates, with 49,198 students registered. Of these, 48,528 candidates were pre-registered, while 670 additional candidates joined after the postponed registration period. Khyber Medical University (KMU) in Peshawar secured the second-highest number of registrations, with 38,841 applicants, including 38,318 initial registrations and 523 new sign-ups. IBA University in Sukkur is set to administer the test to 34,232 candidates, comprising 33,683 pre-registered students and 549 who registered after the delay. Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences (BUMHS) in Quetta will handle 9,923 applications, with 9,777 initial registrations and 146 new registrations. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) in Islamabad, which will also conduct the exam abroad in Saudi Arabia, has received 5,964 applications, consisting of 5,789 pre-registered students and 175 new registrations.",
  "summary": "• More than 2,000 students registered during additional registration phase after test was postponed • UHS Lahore will conduct exam for the largest number of applicants, with 49,198 students registered ISLAMABAD: The compiled data submitted by universities to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) shows that 138,158 candidates will appear in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test…",
  "key_points": [
    "138,000+ students to take 2026 MDCAT on September 20",
    "2,063 candidates registered after initial postponement",
    "UHS Lahore to conduct exam for 49,198 candidates"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The surge in MDCAT registrations, including 2,063 late sign-ups, indicates growing interest in medical and dental education in Pakistan, with five universities administering the test across the country.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Over 138,000 candidates to take MDCAT on Sept 20",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/over-138-000-candidates-to-take-mdcat-on-sept-20-7243619",
        "published": "2026-09-14T03:20:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}