DERA GHAZI KHAN - As many as 1,955 out of 2,496 candidates re-appeared in the Medical and Dental Colleges’ Admission Test (MDCAT) at the examination centre located at Divisional Public School & College DG Khan.
The admission test was re-conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore. The examination centre consisted of six blocks namely Zainab Block, Ahmad Block, Usman Block, Ghazi Block, Fatima Block and Ali Block. As many as 497, 161, 351, 139, 394 and 413 candidates appeared in these blocks respectively.
The candidates and parents expressed their satisfaction with the arrangements made by UHS as well as district administration. A large number of police personnel were deployed at the centre to prevent any disruption of the examination. The candidates started reaching the centre at 6:30am. The parents were seen reciting Holy Quran for the success of their children. No untoward incident occurred during the test.
As per UHS instructions, the candidates were not allowed to bring clip boards at the centre. Moreover, cell phones, calculators, books and notes, bags and electronic devices such as watches, headphones, Bluetooth and even metallic pens were strictly prohibited. The roll numbers and test centre was the same as that in the test held on August 20, 2017.
First time in Punjab, MDCAT has been re-conducted by UHS because the joint investigation committee including FIA, Special Branch, Forensic experts and other high officials constituted by the Chief Minister Punjab had got some of the evidence about the leakage of MCAT paper of August 20, 2017 from the University of Health Sciences.
A big network was involved in the paper leakage of the UHS. As per a report, there are 3,405 MBBS seats in 17 public sector medical colleges and 216 BDS seats in three public dental colleges of Punjab. Similarly, there are around 3,500 MBBS and 800 BDS seats in 27 private sector medical colleges and 12 dental colleges of the province respectively.
DG Khan Commissioner Ahmed Ali Kamboh, Deputy Commissioner Allah Rakha Anjum, Member Judicial Board of Revenue Shiekh Khalid, SSP Sajjad Hussain Gujar, Additional Commissioner Coordination Azfar Zia, ADCG Mazher Iqbal, Assistant Commissioners SaifUllah Khan, Abdul Ghaffar and Shahid Abbas, Secretary RTA Kashif Jalil, SNA Muazem Chishti and other senior officials monitored the arrangements for MDCAT at examination centre.