ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The applications for MBBS, BDS admissions on quota seats in Punjab’s medical and dental colleges will open on December 1.
Candidates will submit applications through a UHS online portal. For the first time, students from other provinces will be able to apply directly rather than through nominations.
Under the admission policy approved by the provincial cabinet, several quota seats have been reserved:
| Region / Quota Category | MBBS Seats | BDS Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | 26 | 4 |
| Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) | 36 | 3 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) | 55 | 5 |
| Balochistan – Goodwill category | 20 | — |
| Former FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) | 21 | 6 |
| Balochistan – HEC Scholarship | 28 | 10 |
| Former FATA – HEC Scholarship | 28 | 10 |
Applicants should be domiciled in the respective province/region and be the minimum eligible candidate as per the PM&DC criteria.
The online application window will be open till December 15. The UHS has also set up a dedicated help desk, headed by Deputy Registrar (Public Affairs) Yasir Sultan, to guide the candidates about the process.
Earlier, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) officially abolished the requirement of 65% passing marks for the students of MBBS and BDS.
The new notification, issued for the 2024-2025 academic session, says the passing marks will revert to 50 percent for both MBBS and BDS.
Earlier, the council increased the passing threshold for the 2024-2025 session to 65%. However, it decided to roll back the decision in view of the feedback and discussions in order to make the standard more accessible for medical and dental students in the country.
Apart from revising the passing marks, the PMDC also relaxed the attendance requirement for medical students. Instead of 85 percent attendance, which was earlier compulsory, the council has restored 75 percent attendance for the new session.
It, therefore, ordered all medical universities to implement this change in the 2024-2025 academic year without any further delay.
These changes, in a sense, make medical education more accessible but keep the standards strict enough for the upcoming health professionals. PMDC’s latest step will indeed provide respite to scores of students who were struggling to meet the previous required standards.
