KARACHI:
The long-anticipated Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) is scheduled for Sunday, 13th November. Aspirants from across the country will sit the test to gain a position at their desired institutes. However, PTI’s long march, which is moving towards Islamabad has become a source of panic and distress among many candidates. Candidates will face difficulties in reaching their centres within Punjab due to road blockades and traffic disruptions.
Pakistan Medical Commission’s (PMC) policy about the MDCAT exam is already unclear. Therefore, candidates have to appear in the exam to avoid any misadventures. My sister who spent an entire year preparing for the exam is now dejected as all her hard work may go in vain if she is unable to make it to the centre. Another friend from Attock is extremely worried as he has to travel nearly 300 kilometres and will be faced with traffic on the Grand Trunk Road.
Calls from candidates and even the Pakistan Medical Association to delay the long march until Sunday evening appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Even before the long march, candidates encountered several difficulties in travelling to and from their centres. Therefore, the PMC must take this as a sign to establish centres in more cities to ensure that they are easily accessible for all candidates. As for now, the PMC must delay the test if the PTI does not delay its long march.
Muhammad Faseeh-ul Hassan
Gujar Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2022.
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