ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has postponed the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 from August 16 to September 20 following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, providing thousands of aspiring medical and dental students with extra time to prepare.
The decision was announced in a press release issued by the PM&DC on Thursday. The council said the examination had been rescheduled to ensure its smooth, secure and transparent conduct while facilitating candidates across the country.
“On the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) hereby informs all candidates, parents, educational institutions and other stakeholders that the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), previously scheduled to be held on August 16, 2026, has been rescheduled to September 20, 2026,” the council said.
The PM&DC clarified that all other examination arrangements, rules and conditions would remain unchanged unless notified otherwise. Candidates have been advised to regularly check the council’s official website and communication channels for further updates and instructions.
The revised schedule is expected to benefit more than 136,000 registered candidates by giving them an additional five weeks to prepare for the mandatory entrance examination.
The MDCAT will be conducted in 35 cities across Pakistan, while an overseas examination centre has also been established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to facilitate Pakistani students residing abroad.
The PM&DC expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the change in schedule and thanked students, parents, educational institutions and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
The MDCAT is mandatory for admission to public and private medical and dental colleges across Pakistan, with more than 100,000 students competing annually for a limited number of seats.
The announcement follows concerns raised by students and lawmakers regarding the examination process. Earlier this week, Azad Jammu and Kashmir officials highlighted difficulties faced by students in completing MDCAT registrations due to the prolonged internet shutdown in the region, prompting the PM&DC to assure maximum facilitation.
Last month, a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services also expressed concern over complaints related to the examination’s conduct and scheduling. During the meeting, lawmakers were informed that around 135,000 candidates were expected to appear in the test, while committee members said they had received nearly 1,000 complaints from students.
The revised timetable is expected to provide candidates with additional preparation time while allowing authorities to strengthen arrangements for the nationwide examination.
