Students Demand Immediate Withdrawal of Punjab’s New Medical College Admission Policy 2025. The Punjab government’s New Medical College Admission Policy 2025 has triggered widespread protests and anger among medical aspirants across the province. The decision, allowing candidates from 2023 and 2024 to reuse their old MDCAT score, has been labeled “unjust” and “discriminatory” by students appearing in MDCAT 2025.
While the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) claims the change was made to ensure “equal opportunity for all candidates,” thousands of students believe it is a serious blow to merit and undermines the hard work of those preparing under the new syllabus and higher difficulty level.
Students Protest “Unfair Admission Rules”
Protests erupted in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan, where MDCAT 2025 aspirants gathered to demand the withdrawal of the new policy. Student representatives described the rule as “deeply unfair” and a “betrayal of trust,” highlighting that it gives undue advantage to older candidates who had already taken easier exams.
“No other professional university in Pakistan — not NUST, AKU, PU, or GCU — allows reuse of old test scores. Why should medical students be treated differently?”
— A student leader during the Lahore press conference
Students argued that every academic session should have a fresh, equal competition, reflecting the international standard of merit-based admissions.
Comparison Between MDCAT 2024 and 2025
| Year | Total Questions | High Scorers (190+ Marks) | Difficulty Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 200 | 2,750 students | Moderate | Easier test, more high scores |
| 2025 | 180 | 817 students | Difficult | Harder test, fewer top marks |
The data reveals why current students are frustrated — the 2025 paper was significantly tougher, meaning older candidates now benefit unfairly from their easier past scores.
Fear of “Backdoor Entry” and Admission Chaos
Many aspirants warn that this new rule could open doors for manipulation and create administrative chaos in government medical colleges.
According to students, the decision may allow already-admitted individuals to apply again, simply to upgrade colleges, leaving fresh candidates at a disadvantage.
“This policy will flood the system with old applicants, delay admissions, and cause seat reshuffling. It’s unfair to those who worked hard for MDCAT 2025,”
said another protester from Multan.
Education analysts have also pointed out that seat redistribution and delayed admissions could strain an already overburdened education infrastructure.
Possible Impacts of the Policy
| Category | Potential Issue | Student Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Fairness | Acceptance of old MDCAT scores | Unfair to new aspirants |
| Merit | Variation in difficulty levels | Unequal competition |
| Admissions | Seat replacements & delays | Confusion & administrative strain |
| Public Trust | Inconsistent policy decisions | Loss of confidence in PMDC |
The situation raises serious questions about transparency and credibility within the PMDC’s admission framework.
Students’ Call for Immediate Policy Withdrawal
Student organizations are now urging Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the PMDC to withdraw the controversial decision immediately. They recommend adopting Sindh, NUST, and AKU’s model — where only current-year test scores are considered valid.
“We’re not asking for favors — only for fairness,”
said a student leader in Lahore.
They emphasized that merit-based selection is the foundation of trust in medical education. Without revising the policy, many fear that future aspirants may lose motivation and public confidence in PMDC could further erode.
Experts are also calling for open consultations with student representatives before finalizing such life-changing decisions.
Final Thoughts
The backlash over the Punjab Medical Admission Policy 2025 reflects a growing demand for fairness, meritocracy, and transparency in Pakistan’s education system. While PMDC’s intentions might have been to level the playing field, the execution has clearly backfired.
