ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has raised the passing marks for MBBS and BDS annual examinations from 50% to 70%. Additionally, the minimum attendance requirement in medical and dental colleges has been increased from 75% to 90% to ensure students receive adequate curricular exposure and hands-on experience.
The decision was approved during a recent PMDC council meeting, and a formal notification has been issued to medical and dental colleges across the country.
The council also outlined a new policy regarding self-finance and foreign quota seats. According to the notification, a candidate seeking admission under the foreign quota in public or private medical and dental institutions must:
- Hold permanent foreign nationality or be a Pakistani citizen residing abroad (including Green Card holders, Iqama holders, and Maple Leaf card holders).
- Have completed HSSC (12th grade) or equivalent education from outside Pakistan.
- Provide a certificate from their last attended institution, confirming their residency status at the time of admission application.
Additionally, the notification clarified that expatriate candidates holding Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or A-Level qualifications (whether obtained in Pakistan or abroad) are eligible for admission to MBBS/BDS programs, provided they have an equivalence certificate from the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC). The policy further mandates that Biology and Chemistry must be compulsory subjects, while candidates may choose Physics or Mathematics as optional subjects.