Lahore: Punjab Home Department has issued comprehensive security instructions to police and district administrations for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, scheduled to be held on September 20 (Sunday) across the province.
According to a spokesperson, more than 48,000 candidates are expected to appear in the entrance test, which is being conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) for admission to public and private medical and dental colleges.
A total of 33 examination centers will be established in 15 major cities of the province, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.
The spokesperson said a three-tier security cordon would be established around all examination centers. Civil Defence and Special Branch personnel would thoroughly scan the centers before commencement of the examination.
Security clearance from the Special Branch would be mandatory for all supervisory staff and examination center superintendents, while walk-through gates, metal detectors and CCTV cameras would be installed at all entry points.
Female police squads would be deployed at examination centers for the security and facilitation of female candidates. Parking facilities would be arranged at a safe distance from the centers, while district administrations would implement effective traffic management plans. No vehicle would be allowed to approach the examination centers.
The spokesperson said Rescue 1122, bomb disposal squads, fire brigade and medical staff would be available at examination centers, while nearby government hospitals would remain on standby.
The department also directed authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply through generators at examination centers.
Police squads would provide foolproof security to UHS teams during transportation of examination papers, while police would remain deployed around UHS round the clock.
Effective police patrolling would also be ensured around all examination centers in the respective cities.
The spokesperson said authorities had been directed to make effective arrangements for the immediate evacuation of students after completion of the examination.