The Sindh government has rejected concerns surrounding the 2026 Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), saying official results show that candidates from Karachi performed better overall than those from other divisions of the province.
According to a response submitted by the Sindh Health Department to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), the district-wise examination data does not support claims that Karachi students performed poorly. The controversy emerged after no candidate from Karachi secured a position among Sindh’s top 20 MDCAT performers.
Karachi Records Highest Average MDCAT Score
The Sindh Health Department said 33,336 candidates appeared for the examination across the province, with 57.96% scoring at least 90 marks.
Karachi recorded an average score of 107.67 marks, according to the department’s analysis. Of the 9,505 candidates who appeared from Karachi, 66.98% scored 90 or more marks, while 57.78% obtained at least 99 marks.
The department also shared the following figures for candidates scoring 90 or more marks in other divisions:
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Sukkur: 55.04%
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Larkana: 54.50%
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Shaheed Benazirabad: 53.62%
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Hyderabad: 52.34%
Based on these figures, the department maintained that Karachi candidates performed strongly despite the concerns raised after the results were announced.
Government Defends District-Based Admission Policy
The provincial government also addressed concerns about merit and domicile-based admissions to public medical colleges.
According to the Health Department, seats are allocated under the applicable district-based admission policy, with Karachi’s designated seats reserved for candidates who meet the relevant domicile requirements.
The department said higher scores achieved by candidates from other districts would not change the allocation of seats reserved for Karachi. It also noted that students from different parts of Sindh may prepare for the examination in major cities such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana.
The government urged the public not to view candidates’ results with suspicion solely because of their domicile or comparative performance.
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PM&DC Inquiry Follows Examination Complaints
The controversy intensified after the results were announced, with questions raised about the absence of Karachi candidates from the top 20 positions. The highest score reported in the results was 179 out of 180, while the first Karachi candidate appeared at position 21.
Earlier, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal directed the PM&DC to investigate complaints regarding the transparency and fairness of MDCAT 2026 in Sindh. The inquiry was expected to examine examination-centre data, marks distribution, pass rates and allegations of possible irregularities, including claims of paper leakage.
The Sindh government’s response presents its interpretation of the results, but the concerns that prompted the inquiry remain a separate issue. The outcome of the investigation will be important in determining whether any procedural or other irregularities affected the examination.
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