PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: The General Body Meeting of the Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar Employees Welfare Association was held at the Hafiz Ullah Auditorium, with a large number of participants, including Association President Prof. Dr. Inayat Shah, General Secretary Deputy Director Naveed Iqbal Khattak, office-bearers, Faculty Members, administrative officers, and employees.
The meeting expressed serious concern over the proposal to once again conduct the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA). The participants stated that, in accordance with the directives of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), KMU has been conducting the MDCAT in a transparent, secure, and merit-based manner for the past three years.
The meeting was informed that KMU had completed all arrangements for the MDCAT originally scheduled for August 16, including the booking of air-conditioned examination halls in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, printing of examination material, security arrangements, and other administrative and logistical preparations. The University had incurred substantial expenditure in this regard.
Following the postponement of the examination to September 20, KMU once again completed all necessary arrangements. Air-conditioned examination halls were rebooked, advance payments were made, and comprehensive preparations are underway to ensure the transparent, secure, and smooth conduct of the examination.
The participants recalled that MDCAT had previously been conducted through ETEA; however, due to irregularities in the past and concerns regarding the transparency of the MDCAT, the responsibility for conducting the examination was subsequently handed over to KMU by PM&DC in accordance with court orders.
The participants stated that KMU has successfully conducted the examination over the past three years while maintaining high standards of transparency, confidentiality, security, and merit. They added that the examination arrangements made by KMU have been appreciated by PM&DC, the government, students, and parents.
The meeting was further informed that KMU, in collaboration with the local administration, security agencies, FIA, intelligence agencies, and other law-enforcement institutions, has established comprehensive security arrangements for the printing, transportation, and secure delivery of examination papers to examination centres.
The participants emphasized that transferring the MDCAT back to ETEA would undermine the transparent and secure system established by KMU and could adversely affect the interests of deserving, and talented students. They stressed that, in the larger interest of students and the protection of merit, the responsibility for conducting the examination should remain with an institution capable of ensuring the highest standards of transparency, confidentiality, security, and merit.
The KMU Employees Welfare Association called upon the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and all other relevant authorities to reconsider any proposal to withdraw the MDCAT from KMU and allow the University to continue conducting the test through the existing transparent, secure, and merit-based system, which it has successfully implemented over the past three years.
The Association further urged the authorities to take into consideration the extensive arrangements and substantial expenditures already incurred by KMU for the MDCAT scheduled for September 20. Retaining the existing examination and administrative system, it said, would help avoid unnecessary uncertainty, inconvenience, and additional burden for students and their parents.
