ISLAMABAD: In view of a substantial number of vacant seats in medical and dental colleges across the country, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has approved a one-time 5% reduction in the MDCAT qualifying criteria for MBBS and BDS admissions for the 2024–25 academic session.
This decision follows a formal request dated April 16, 2025, from Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, Sindh, highlighting the pressing concern over unfilled seats. After careful deliberation, the PM&DC Council decided to revise the qualifying threshold as a special provision applicable only for this academic year, and strictly in the broader public interest.
The revised admission criteria will help address the issue of vacant seats in public and private sector medical and dental institutions across all provinces. However, PM&DC has made it clear that this relaxation is a one-time measure and shall not set a precedent for future admissions.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency and merit in the admission process while ensuring that national educational resources are effectively utilized to meet the country’s healthcare needs.
All admissions under this relaxation must be completed within the prescribed timeline and in full compliance with the PM&DC Admissions Regulations, 2023.
For further details and implementation guidelines, institutions are advised to consult the official PM&DC directives.
