Karachi: Despite the circulation of fake MDCAT papers on social media, the test was conducted on schedule under SIBA Testing Services across nine cities and ten centers in Sindh, concluding peacefully at 1:00 p.m.
The nationwide MDCAT 2025 exam was held for admissions to 188 public and private medical and dental colleges.
According to sources, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) received over Rs 1.26 billion in fees from around 140,000 candidates.
Pakistan currently has 121 private colleges (77 medical and 44 dental) and 67 public colleges (49 medical and 18 dental).
Sukkur IBA University Vice-Chancellor Professor Asif Ahmed Shaikh confirmed that all papers circulating online were fake.
He said, “Certain groups tried to mislead students by spreading counterfeit papers, but all twelve were proven false.”
He added that the original papers were sealed in seven layers and opened in front of students under strict monitoring.
Vehicles transporting the papers were fitted with CCTV cameras and closely monitored throughout their route.
In Karachi, tests were conducted at Dow University (Ojha Campus) and NED University, where 5,096 and 5,200 students appeared, respectively.
Candidates were instructed to report by 6:30 a.m., with valid ID and admit card slips, and the test ran from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
However, severe disorder was reported after the exam ended. Students and parents struggled to locate each other amid intense heat and lack of facilities.
Parents complained they had to wait for hours under the scorching sun, with no access to drinking water or washrooms.
The ongoing construction on University Road and the absence of a pedestrian bridge made crossing the road extremely difficult.
Parents and students were seen jumping over barriers to reach one another. Many parents said the waiting area was too far from the examination centers, forcing them to stay outside in the open.
Parents expressed strong reservations over the management and urged the Sindh government to improve arrangements.
Students also criticized the poor road conditions, stating that accidents have become common and the lack of an overhead bridge poses serious risks.
Despite the post-exam chaos, students praised the exam’s fairness and organization, saying the paper was within the syllabus and refreshments like water, juice, biscuits, and chocolates were provided.
Professor Shaikh remarked, “After two months of hard work, the exam was conducted successfully and peacefully.”