LARKANA: The management of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) has requested the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to review and relax the admission criteria for MBBS and BDS programmes for the 2025–26 academic session in order to address a growing number of vacant seats in private medical and dental colleges across Sindh.
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According to sources, the SMBBMU registrar formally approached the PMDC last month, highlighting that a significant number of seats in private institutions remained unfilled due to candidates failing to meet the existing eligibility criteria. In his communication, the registrar noted that approximately 350 MBBS seats had gone vacant as applicants were unable to secure the minimum required marks.
The letter stated that SMBBMU had received repeated requests from private medical and dental colleges, which expressed serious concern over their inability to fill seats despite conducting multiple admission rounds. The registrar recalled that during the previous academic year, the passing marks for MBBS and BDS admissions were reduced by five per cent, a move that proved effective in facilitating admissions and preventing the wastage of valuable seats.
Currently, the PMDC has fixed the minimum passing criteria at 55 per cent for MBBS and 50 per cent for BDS admissions. However, the registrar pointed out that the number of eligible candidates during the ongoing session was even lower than last year, while the number of vacant seats was comparatively higher.
Given these circumstances, SMBBMU recommended a further relaxation of the criteria by 10 per cent. Under the proposal, the minimum passing marks for MBBS would be reduced to 45 per cent and for BDS to 40 per cent. The registrar emphasised that the proposed adjustment was necessary to ensure optimal utilisation of available seats, maintain continuity of academic activities and safeguard the interests of both institutions and aspiring students.
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He added that the relaxation would still uphold reasonable academic standards while contributing to meeting Sindh’s healthcare service needs. Copies of the letter were also forwarded to the Sindh health secretary, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, the vice chancellor and the chairperson of the Supervising and Steering Committee, Sindh.
SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nusrat Shah confirmed sending the letter and said no response had yet been received from the PMDC.