LAHORE - At least 22,000 male and female candidates are appearing in the Entry Tests to be held on Sunday (today) against approximately 4,000 seats for admission in the medical and dental colleges across Punjab. We have finalised all the arrangements to carry out entry test for admission to MBBS classes in medical colleges of the Punjab in more transparent manner. A total of 22,000 candidates are participating in entry test against 4,000 seats in 11 public sector and 12 private sector medical colleges as well as three public sector and eight private sector dental colleges in the Punjab, Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Prof Dr Hussain Mubasher Malik told reporters while addressing a Press conference here on Saturday. He said that thirteen examination centres have been established in 12 different cities of the Punjab, where entry tests would start on Sunday (today) at 9:00am sharp. The candidates will have to reach their relevant centres at 8:00 am, as the examination centres would be sealed at 8:15am. Prof Dr Hussain Mubasher Malik also termed the arrangements of entry tests as excellent and foolproof. Prof Mubasher further informed that the Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had enhanced 100 per cent goodwill quota for medical students of Balochistan in Punjab and seats allocation have been increased from 10 to 20. The UHS Vice Chancellor informed that the province has been divided into three zones, southern, central and northern zones for conducting entry tests and in Southern zone, four entry test centres have been established in Sheikh Zayed Public School, Rahimyar Khan, BISE Centre Dera Ghazi Khan, Islamia University Bahawalpur and Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan whereas in central zone seven entry test centres have been established in BISE Examination Hall Lahore, UHS Lahore, Agriculture University Faisalabad, Govt. Boys Degree College Sahiwal, University of Gujrat, Punjab University Gujranwala Campus and University of Sargodha. Moreover, in Northern zone, two centres have been established in Siddique Public School, Rawalpindi and Mishal Degree College, Wah Cantt. The Vice Chancellor also said that foolproof security arrangements have been made in these centres, whereas highly scientific and sophisticated method has been adopted to maintain the secrecy, transparency of the examination papers and whole process of the test. He made it clear that admission in medical colleges would be given purely on merit. He further said that the Chief Minister has expressed his satisfaction over the procedure adopted by the UHS to maintain the secrecy, impartiality in preparation of examination papers and security arrangements and facilities to be extended to the candidates. The VC also said that it would be mandatory for private medical colleges to display their merit lists after the display of these lists by the public sector medical colleges to save the candidates from double expenditures. Meanwhile, Prof Malik said that close circuit TV cameras, mobile jammers and security gates have been installed at all examination centres with special arrangements for disabled candidates besides special parking space for relatives of candidates. He said that backup generators have also been provided at all centres besides provision of facility of first aid to meet any eventuality. He said 1,296 best and honest invigilators have also been appointed after clearance by agencies. According to the officials, the Punjab Chief Minister has appointed all Divisional Commissioners as Regional Co-ordinators to ensure 100 per cent transparency in the pre-admission test to MBBS first year. The Secretary IT, Irrigation and Special Health will also act as Regional Co-ordinators for entry test. All the commissioners and secretaries have also been briefed about the conduct of pre-admission test and their vital role to help maintain transparency with their required co-operation and assistance to the examination staff.