ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has reaffirmed that the National Registration Examination (NRE) is a standardized and transparent assessment, with no compromise on merit, aimed at ensuring patient safety across the country.
According to PM&DC, the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, has been entrusted with the conduct of the NRE to maintain credibility, integrity, and transparency. NUMS has been conducting the examination for the past two years and is fully responsible for paper setting, examination conduct, evaluation, compilation, and declaration of final results for NRE Step-I.
The NRE is conducted in two steps, at least twice a year, strictly in accordance with approved NRE standards, structure, and syllabus, which are available on the official PM&DC website. The examination syllabus is aligned with the MBBS and BDS curriculum in Pakistan to ensure uniform standards.
PM&DC clarified that it has no direct role in paper development, examination conduct, or result preparation. Candidates are encouraged to submit complaints or concerns, if any, through the official online portal.
The passing criterion for the NRE is 60 percent, with no negative marking. Results are declared by NUMS in a timely manner and are published on the PM&DC website, while detailed marks are accessible through the official online portal. PM&DC also provides an option for re-totaling of results; however, only two candidates applied for re-totaling following the NRE held in December 2025.
As the national regulatory authority, PM&DC stated that no discrimination is exercised at any stage of the examination process. All procedures are conducted in a robust and transparent manner to ensure fairness, accountability, and alignment with national and international best practices. The council termed allegations regarding lack of transparency as baseless.
The NRE for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) is a mandatory requirement under an Act of Parliament, designed to ensure standardization, transparency, and quality in medical and dental education and professional practice in Pakistan.
