Aspiring doctors: 41,677 take the medical college admission test

LAHORE:

As many as 41,677 candidates-13,361 boys and 28,316 girls- sat the medical and dental colleges entrance test on Sunday in 12 cities, amid tight security.

The test began at 9am at 20 examination centres in Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi and Hassan Abdal. The entrance and exit gates of the centres were padlocked at 8:15am.

Heavy police contingents were deployed at the centres to prevent any untoward incidents or disruptions. Bomb Disposal Squads and Fire Brigade teams were also stationed at the centres. CCTV cameras, mobile phone jammers and walk-through gates were installed at entrance and exit gates of the centres. Arrangements were made for disabled students. Parking and waiting area were provided for parents. Back-up power generators were provided at most of the centres.

Most of the candidates and their parents expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. No untoward incidents were reported.

The candidates are competing for 6,455 MBBS and 931 BDS seats at 20 public and 40 private colleges. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS

In Lahore, Commissioner Imdadullah Bosal and District Coordination Officer Naseem Sadiq were among the senior officials monitoring the arrangements at four exam centres where 8,196 girls and 3,739 boys sat the test. As many as 4,400 girls sat the test at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lawrence Road. Around 3,796 girls and 237 boys sat the test at the Government Comprehensive Girls High School. 1,542 girls and 1,960 boys sat the test at Government Pilot High School for Boys, Wahdat Road.

Nearly 5,336 candidates sat the test in Rawalpindi, 6,549 candidates sat the test in Multan, 4,140 in Faisalabad, 3,387 in Gujranwala, 1,986 in Bahawalpur, 1,779 students at the test in Sargodha, 2,057 in Sahiwal, 1,500 in Gujrat, 1,254 in DG Khan, 1,235 in Rahim Yar Khan and 489 candidates in Hassan Abdal.

After the test ended, UHS Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (retd) Muhammad Aslam told the media that the UHS had developed a sophisticated method to ensure the confidentiality of examination papers.

The successful candidates will compete for 3,405 MBBS and 216 BDS seats at 20 colleges. The candidates can also apply for 3,050 MBBS seats in 28 private medical colleges and 715 BDS seats in 12 private dental colleges.

The UHS has uploaded the answer key on its website www.uhs.edu.pk. Candidates can use it to calculate their scores. The official results will be announced in the first week of October.

Senior govt officials supervise

Secretaries of 16 provincial departments, divisional commissioners, district coordination officers and senior government officials monitored the entrance test for admission to medical and dental colleges of the Punjab, given by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Sunday.

In Lahore, DCO Naseem Sadiq; Board of Revenue members Sheikh Siddique Wahla, Waheed Akhtar Ansari, Sardar M Akram, Munawar Ahmed Majoka, and Shumail Ahmad; Services and General Administration Department Enquiry members Shaikh Muhammad Amin, Shahid Ahmad Bhutta, Chaudhry Iqbal Ahmad and Capt (retd) Atta Muhammad Khan monitored the test at various examination centres.

In Faisalabad, Agriculture Secretary Ijaz Munir, Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Secretary Pervez Ahmad Khan and the commissioner supervised the test.

Divisional Commissioner Capt (retd) Sher Alam Mehsood monitored the test in Sahiwal. Population Welfare Secretary Altaf Ezid Khan, Provincial Transport Authority Secretary Shaukat Ali, Mines and Minerals Secretary Capt (retd) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, Youth Affairs and Sports Secretary Muhammad Khan Khichi, Communication and Works Secretary Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad, Zakat and Ushr Secretary Capt (retd) Jahanzeb Khan and Commissioner Syed Ali Murtaza were deputed to ensure the smooth conduct of the test in Multan.

Commissioner Capt (retd) Asad Ullah Khan and Colonies Member Mian Nazir Ahmad were deputed in Bahawalpur. In DG Khan, Commissioner Muhammad Amin Ch; DCO Nabeel Javed in Rahim Yar Khan; Food Secretary Muhammad Aslam in Sargodha; and Sargodha Commissioner Iqbal Muhammad Chohan monitored the test.

Seven provincial secretaries, the divisional commissioner and the DCO were deputed in Rawalpindi.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2013.