As many as 31,602 candidates on Tuesday appeared in the entrance test for admission to the medical and dental colleges of Punjab for which 23 centres were established in 12 cities of the province.
These candidates would compete for 3361 seats, including 3145 MBBS and 216 BDS seats in 15 medical institutions (including four newly established colleges at Gujranwala, Sialkot, D.G. Khan and Sahiwal) and three dental colleges in public sector in the province respectively. Besides, there would be 1200 MBBS seats in 12 medical colleges and 400 BDS seats in eight dental colleges in private sector.
According to the available figures, out of total 31,602 candidates who appeared in the entrance test, 10,816 were males whereas 20,786 were females. Last year, 21,289 candidates had appeared with 6432 males and 14,857 females. Despite heavy downpour in various cities including Lahore, a good number of candidates took part in the test that was conducted by the University of Health Science (UHS). The test started at 09:00 am and concluded at 11:30 am.
In Lahore, divisional Commissioner Khusro Pervez Khan, Member Chief Minister's Inspection Team Aftab Habib and other senior officials visited the examination centres. There were three centres; one at Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education examination halls at Lawrence Road where 4502 female candidates appeared, the second centre was established at University of Engineering and Technology where 5617 candidates turned up. The third centre was established at the University of Health Science where 975 non-FSc candidates appeared.
In Lahore, out of a total of 11,094 candidates, 7319 were female and 3775 male. In Rawalpindi, the number of candidates who appeared in the test were 4502, Multan 4212, Faisalabad 2984, Gujranwala 2139, Bahawalpur 1240, Sargodha 938, Sahiwal 1080, Gujrat 841, D.G. Khan 872, Rahimyar Khan 889 and in Hasan Abdal 719 candidates appeared in the test.
The government on that occasion made foolproof security arrangements with hundreds of security personnel and bomb disposal squads present at each centre. Close circuit TV cameras, mobile phone jammers and security walk-through gates were installed at all examination centres with special arrangements for disabled students besides special parking and waiting space for parents and relatives of candidates. Secretary Health Fawad Hassan Fawad termed the arrangements of entrance test excellent and said that because of the transparent systems of UHS, there was no possibility of cheating or any other negative activity in the entrance test.
UHS Vice Chancellor Professor Malik Hussain Mubbashar said that highly scientific and sophisticated method had been adopted to maintain the secrecy, transparency of the examination papers and whole process of the test. He made it clear once again that admission in medical colleges would be purely on merit. He further said that Chief Minster Mian Shahbaz Sharif had expressed his satisfaction over the procedures adopted by UHS to maintain the secrecy, impartiality in the preparation of examination papers and facilities extended to the candidates.