The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has assured that every possible facilitation will be provided to students from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to ensure they can appear in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 despite internet-related challenges.
The assurance was given during a meeting held on Monday between PMDC officials and a delegation from the AJK government. The delegation included AJK Secretary Health Brig Aamer Reza Tippu and Chairman of the Joint Admission Committee Prof. Dr. Fasal Bashir, while PMDC was represented by President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, Registrar Brig. Rehan Naqvi (Retd), and Director Admission Affairs Dr. Imdad Ali Khushuk.
During the meeting, the AJK Secretary Health informed PMDC that students in the region had faced difficulties completing MDCAT registration due to the prolonged internet shutdown. He requested the council to ensure that no eligible student is deprived of the opportunity to sit for the entrance examination.
PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj said the council had already introduced several special measures to support AJK students and reiterated the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible candidates from the region can take the MDCAT.
He noted that the MDCAT registration deadline had been extended twice without any additional fee. Initially scheduled to close on July 8, the deadline was first extended to July 13 and later to July 23 to provide maximum convenience for students affected by the connectivity issues.
Facilitation Measures for AJK Students
PMDC has introduced several measures to assist AJK students, including:
- Extension of the MDCAT registration deadline with the normal registration fee.
- Acceptance of registration applications through WhatsApp, email, and physical submission.
- Direct assistance for students facing registration issues through PMDC.
- Establishment of a special MDCAT examination centre in Islamabad for AJK students.
- Appointment of a focal person and issuance of a public notice to help students with registration and examination-related matters.
During the meeting, PMDC’s president and registrar also agreed in principle to establish a PMDC sub-office in AJK to improve access to council services for students and healthcare professionals. The proposal will be presented to the PMDC Governing Body for formal approval.
The AJK Secretary Health and the Chairman of the Joint Admission Committee appreciated PMDC’s timely initiatives and thanked the council for its continued support in ensuring that AJK students receive every possible facilitation during the MDCAT registration and examination process.
