The Punjab government has declared that mobile and internet services will be temporarily halted across the province on September 22 to curb cheating during the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
Specifically, the suspension will affect areas within 500 meters of testing centres during the MDCAT, which is scheduled in 12 districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, and D.G. Khan. 82,500 candidates are expected to take the test across various centres.
In preparation for the test, the government also enforced Section 144 in these cities to secure the exam environment and prevent cheating. This regulation restricts entry within 100 yards of exam centres to only candidates and supervisory staff, effectively limiting access for unrelated individuals.
Furthermore, to maintain order and security, protests and demonstrations near the exam venues are prohibited in the cities of Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujarat, and Rahim Yar Khan.
These stringent measures are part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent external interference in the MDCAT and ensure a fair testing environment for all participants.
