Moalims

LAHORE: As many as 47,559 candidates (31,149 female and 16,410 male) appeared in medical and dental colleges’ entry test for Punjab, on Sunday.

The examination was conducted by University of Health Sciences (UHS) simultaneously in 13 cities of the province, amid tight security. The test was held at 34 centres in Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Hasan Abdal. More than 3,700 invigilators and supervisory staff oversaw the exam. A large number of policemen were deployed at the test centres to prevent any disruption of the examination. Ambulances and fire brigades were also at hand at the centres. Besides, CCTV cameras, mobile phone jammers and walk-through gates were installed at all the centres.

There were proper arrangements for the disabled students, parking and waiting area for the parents of the candidates. Back-up power generators were also provided at most of the centres. In Lahore, LG&CD Secretary Khalid Masood Chaudhry, MPDD Secretary Nadeem Irshad Kiyani, Higher Education Secretary Irfan Ali, Women Development Secretary Amna Imam, Punjab Examination Commission CEO Nasir Iqbal Malik, District Coordination Officer Capt (r) Muhammad Usman and other senior officials monitored the arrangements for a total of 9,574 female and 4,830 male candidates who appeared in the test at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education examination halls at Lawrence Road, Punjab University examination halls at Wahdat Road, Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Government Central Model School Lower Mall, University of Education, Township and Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road.

Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashar Raza and Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik visited various centres and monitored the arrangements. Talking to media on this occasion, UHS Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (r) Prof Muhammad Aslam said medicine and dentistry attract the most brilliant students every year and these students demand a system that is robust and fair. “UHS has tried to make the process structured and transparent and it is regularly reviewed to ensure that only suitable and capable candidates are admitted,” he said while adding that UHS believes that all candidates should have an equal opportunity to show their suitability for the MBBS and BDS programmes.

He added that entry to the medical and dental profession is based on the principles of merit, justice, equity and transparency. In the next stage, the candidates who secure 82 percent or more in terms of aggregate marks in accordance with the formula of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council will be eligible to apply on open merit basis and will opt for the colleges of their choice by submitting admission forms from October 1 to October 10. These forms, along with the prospectuses, will be available free of cost from UHS, Lahore, Nishter Medical College, Multan, and Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi, during the said dates. The first selection list for medical colleges will be displayed on October 30.

News Reference