The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has postponed the 2026 Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, rescheduling the examination from Aug. 16 to Sept. 20, 2026.
In a statement, the PMDC said the decision was taken to ensure the examination is conducted in a more organised, secure, transparent and candidate-friendly manner. MDCAT is the standardised entrance examination required for admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan.
The council said that while the examination date has changed, all other conditions, regulations and examination arrangements will remain unchanged.
According to the statement, any further amendments to the examination schedule or arrangements, if required, will be communicated separately through an official notification.
PMDC advised candidates, parents, educational institutions and other stakeholders to remain in contact with the council through its official website and authorised communication channels for the latest updates, instructions and announcements.
The council also expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the change in schedule and thanked all stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding.
The announcement follows a recent legal challenge to the examination timetable. The Lahore High Court had dismissed a petition seeking the postponement of the MDCAT examination, allowing the previously announced schedule to remain in place at the time.
However, PMDC has now revised the examination date following the prime minister’s directive, with the test set to be held on Sept. 20 instead of Aug. 16.
The council reiterated that, apart from the revised date, the existing examination framework remains unchanged. It urged all concerned parties to rely only on official sources for information regarding the admission test and any future announcements.
