The Sindh government has rejected objections and claims regarding the 2026 Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), maintaining that Karachi candidates performed better than students from other divisions of the province. According to sources, the Sindh Health Department has submitted its response to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), refuting claims that Karachi students performed poorly in the examination. In its letter, the department said an analysis of MDCAT results and district-wise data did not support allegations of poor performance by Karachi candidates.
Performance Data Across Sindh Divisions
According to the department, 33,336 candidates appeared for the examination across Sindh, with 57.96 per cent of candidates in the province scoring 90 or more marks. Karachi recorded the highest performance among the province’s divisions, registering an average score of 107.67 marks. Of the 9,505 candidates who appeared from Karachi, 66.98 per cent scored 90 or more marks, while 57.78 per cent secured 99 or more marks.
The health department’s letter detailed comparative results across other divisions, noting that 55.04 per cent of candidates in Sukkur, 54.50 per cent in Larkana, 53.62 per cent in Shaheed Benazirabad, and 52.34 per cent in Hyderabad achieved 90 or more marks. Based on its review of historical testing data compiled by Sukkur IBA Testing Services (STS), which conducted the MDCAT in previous years, the health department confirmed that all districts of Karachi were among the nine best-performing districts in Sindh.
MDCAT 2026 Sindh Divisional Results Overview
| Division / Metric | Appeared Candidates | Average Score | Scoring 90+ Marks (%) | Scoring 99+ Marks (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karachi | 9,505 | 107.67 | 66.98% | 57.78% |
| Sukkur | — | — | 55.04% | — |
| Larkana | — | — | 54.50% | — |
| Shaheed Benazirabad | — | — | 53.62% | — |
| Hyderabad | — | — | 52.34% | — |
| Sindh Total / Overall | 33,336 | — | 57.96% | — |
Quota Protections: Concrete Impact for Parents and Candidates
Addressing mounting concerns among medical aspirants and their families, the Sindh government maintained that seats in public medical colleges are allocated on a district-based basis under applicable admission rules, with Karachi’s seats reserved for candidates holding the relevant Karachi domicile. The department stressed that higher scores by candidates from other districts would not change the allocation of seats designated for Karachi, eliminating fears that local quotas would be compromised.
The health department further argued that candidates should not be viewed with suspicion solely because they obtained higher marks on the basis of their domicile, and urged that the examination results not be made controversial for political purposes.
Context of the PM&DC Inquiry
The submission follows an official communication sent by the PMDC to the Sindh Health Department on October 5 regarding concerns over the MDCAT. The council had instructed the provincial government to investigate allegations and submit a report within two weeks, amid complaints on social media alleging the question paper had been leaked. The provincial health authorities maintain that comprehensive district-level data validates the integrity and distribution of the examination outcomes.
Source: ProPakistani.
Source: ProPakistani