KARACHI: The Sindh government has rejected complaints about the 2026 Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT). The provincial government says Karachi candidates performed better than students from other divisions.
The Sindh Health Department has submitted its response to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). According to the department, an analysis of examination results does not support claims of poor performance by Karachi students.
The department also referred to district-wise results to support its position. It said the available figures show that Karachi candidates achieved higher scores than candidates from other divisions.
MDCAT 2026 Results Show Karachi’s Performance
According to the health department, 33,336 candidates appeared for the examination across Sindh. Of these candidates, 57.96 percent secured 90 or more marks.
Karachi recorded the highest average score among the province’s divisions. The city’s candidates achieved an average of 107.67 marks, according to the department’s letter.
A total of 9,505 candidates appeared for the test from Karachi. Among them, 66.98 percent scored at least 90 marks. The department also reported that 57.78 percent secured 99 or more marks.
The health department provided figures from other divisions for comparison. In Sukkur, 55.04 percent of candidates scored 90 or more marks.
Larkana recorded a percentage of 54.50, while Shaheed Benazirabad reached 53.62 percent. Hyderabad recorded 52.34 percent of candidates scoring at least 90 marks.
The department further stated that all Karachi districts ranked among Sindh’s nine best-performing districts. Its assessment was based on the examination results and district-level data.
Health Department Highlights Transparency
The Sindh Health Department said its assessment used data compiled by Sukkur IBA Testing Services (STS). The organisation has conducted the MDCAT examination in previous years.
According to the department, STS published candidates’ marks and domicile information. The department said these details supported transparency in the examination process.
The government maintained that the results should be assessed using available data. It also called for the achievements of students across Sindh to receive recognition.
Sindh Government Explains Medical College Admission Rules
The provincial government also addressed concerns about merit and domicile-based admissions. It said public medical college seats are allocated according to applicable admission rules.
Under the existing policy, Karachi’s designated seats are reserved for eligible candidates holding the relevant Karachi domicile. The department stated that higher scores from candidates belonging to other districts would not change this allocation.
The department also noted that students may prepare for the examination in different cities. These include Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Larkana.
It argued that candidates should not face suspicion simply because they achieved higher marks than others. The government also urged stakeholders to avoid turning the examination results into a political controversy.
PMDC Seeks Inquiry Into MDCAT Complaints
The latest development follows a letter sent by PMDC to the Sindh Health Department on October 5. The letter raised concerns about the examination and requested an investigation.
Earlier, the federal government had also approached the provincial government over complaints about the test. Authorities called for an independent and transparent inquiry into the allegations.
The PMDC wrote to Sindh’s health minister regarding concerns surrounding the examination. The provincial government was asked to complete the inquiry and submit a report within two weeks.
The complaints followed social media claims alleging that the MDCAT question paper had been leaked. Some lawmakers also raised questions about the examination’s credibility and transparency.
The Sindh government’s response presents its position on the controversy. However, the allegations and concerns remain separate from the department’s reported analysis of candidates’ scores.
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The outcome of the inquiry is expected to provide further clarity on the complaints. Meanwhile, the government has maintained that the available results do not support claims of poor performance by Karachi candidates.
