42000 candidates are appearing today in entry test

Lahore: Around 42000 candidates are appearing in the University of Health Sciences (UHS) entrance test which is being held on Sunday September 22, 2013 for admission to public and private sector medical and dental institutions of the Punjab. Punjab government gives high priority to merit and transparency. It is evident from the fact that Chief Minister Punjab has deputed 16 provincial secretaries, all divisional commissioners, DCOs and senior bureaucrats to monitor the whole process and make all out efforts to ensure merit.

UHS has established 20 test centers in 12 cities of the province including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Hassan Abdal, Gujrat, Gujranwala and D.G.Khan. The test shall start at 09:00 A.M. The candidates, however, must reach their respective centers at least one hour before the commencement of the test as all the centers would be sealed at 08:15 A.M. and nobody would be allowed to enter after that.

In Lahore, four centers have been set up which include Examination Halls of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lawrence Road; Examination Halls of Punjab University, Wahdat Road; Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Wahdat Road; and, Government Pilot High School, Wahdat Road. Around 12000 candidates (3800 male and 8200 female) shall sit the test in the metropolis. Total duration of the test shall be two and a half hour. After the main test, the candidates shall be required to answer a separate test comprising questions related to aptitude and feedback. An extra 30 minutes will be provided to the candidates to answer this test which shall have no weightage in the entrance test score.

Punjab government had made immaculate arrangements for smooth conduct of the entrance test. The district administration, under the supervision of concerned divisional commissioners and district coordination officers, had finalized the security and logistic plans at their respective centers where the test was scheduled to be held. Fool proves security arrangements have been made for this purpose.

Walk-through gates and mobile jammers have been installed at each centre. Restrictions imposed under Section 144 on the entry of unauthorized persons in the premises of examination centers. Parents and other attendants of the candidates would be provided comfortable waiting areas, with drinking water and adequate toilet facilities, near examination centers. UHS would provide juice packets to the candidates this year as well. Emergency healthcare services will be ensured at all centers which would include fully equipped ambulances, doctors along with paramedical staff and emergency medicines. Moreover, the nearest teaching hospital or district headquarters hospital will remain on high alert to ensure a state of readiness to meet any emergency. Cell phones, calculators, laptops or notes are not allowed into the examination centre. No candidate will be allowed to enter the centre without the admittance card issued by UHS.

According to the regulations of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, it is mandatory for a candidate to appear in the provincial entrance test conducted by UHS for admission to any public or private medical / dental college of the Punjab. These candidates shall compete for 3405 MBBS seats in 17 public sector medical colleges and 216 BDS seats in 03 public dental colleges of the province. Besides, there are around 3000 MBBS seats available in 28 private medical colleges and 700 BDS seats in 12 private dental colleges of the Punjab.