{
  "id": 8831122,
  "title": "Over 138,000 take MDCAT across the country",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/over-138-000-take-mdcat-across-the-country",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T03:08:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2031442/over-138000-take-mdcat-across-the-country"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) successfully administered the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) on Sunday, accommodating 138,158 registered candidates across the country and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Punjab saw the highest number of registrations with 49,199 candidates, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 38,841, and Sindh with 34,233. Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad also had significant participation with 9,923, 2,761, 1,721, and 135 registered candidates respectively.\n\nIn a show of transparency and accountability, PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj visited MDCAT 2026 examination centers at Air University and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) in Islamabad. During his visit, Dr Taj reviewed the arrangements and expressed satisfaction with the conditions provided to the candidates. The PMDC detailed that MDCAT 2026 was conducted at 34 cities and towns, alongside an international center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.\n\nDr Taj emphasized that all necessary facilities were provided to the candidates, and special examination centers were established in Islamabad for those from Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, a comprehensive post-hoc analysis of the MDCAT 2026 will be conducted to evaluate the overall examination process. Dr Taj affirmed that this year's MDCAT was successfully conducted for the second time under the current council's framework, adhering to the set guidelines, questions, and standards.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Sunday claimed that it successfully conducted the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) in the country and Saudi Arabia for 138,158 registered candidates. A total of 49,199 candidates were registered from Punjab, 38,841 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 34,233 from Sindh, 9,923 from Balochistan, 2,761 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir,…",
  "key_points": [
    "138,158 candidates took MDCAT 2026 across Pakistan and Riyadh.",
    "Punjab had highest registrations with 49,199 candidates.",
    "PMDC President toured exam centers in Islamabad."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}