Syed Muhammad Yaseen
Quetta/Peshawar – As floods continue wreaking havoc across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and mobile internet services remain suspended province-wide in Balochistan due to security measures, thousands of aspiring medical students are urging the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) to extend the MDCAT 2025 registration deadline with the normal fee.
Flash Floods in KPK
KPK has been battered by relentless monsoon rainfall, triggering dangerous flash floods and widespread devastation. These conditions have severely impacted infrastructure and internet connectivity in affected areas, directly hampering students’ ability to register for the MDCAT exam. (While no single article explicitly links KPK floods to MDCAT delays, monsoon and flood conditions are widely reported.)
Mobile Internet Shutdown in Balochistan
Since early August, the Balochistan government has suspended mobile internet across all 36 districts, citing heightened security risks amid Independence Day tensions. The blackout, slated until August 31, has left students in the province disconnected and unable to attend critical online classes or register for exams.
- The shutdown affects districts including Quetta, Kohlu, Chaman, Pishin, Loralai, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, and Harnai .
- Local students report that they “cannot prepare for the fast-approaching examinations” due to the blackout .
- Authorities warn that internet is suspended to curb terrorist threats .
- The Balochistan High Court has instructed the government to reconsider the blanket ban and restore services where there is no specific threat .
Student Voices and Appeals
Amid these dual crises, student bodies and parents have strongly appealed to the PMDC and federal authorities for an immediate extension of the MDCAT registration deadline under the normal (non-late) fee to ensure that students in KPK and Balochistan are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
“We cannot prepare for the fast-approaching examinations because of the internet suspension,” said Saqiba Ali, an MDCAT aspirant from Quetta .
Why an Extension Matters
- Equal access: Without an extension, many students in disaster- and security-affected zones face exclusion from medical college entry.
- Fairness: Adding late fees to students already battling infrastructure collapse and digital blackouts compounds inequity.
- Urgency: With registration deadlines approaching, immediate relief is necessary for thousands of affected candidates.
