KP Cabinet to Consider Major Change in MDCAT, ETEA May Get Responsibility
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet is set to consider a proposal to hand over the responsibility of conducting the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) to the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA).
The proposal is part of the agenda for the provincial cabinet meeting being held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The meeting is expected to discuss several important administrative, financial and development-related matters.
The proposed transfer of MDCAT responsibility to ETEA is among the key items on the agenda. If approved, the move could bring a significant change to the mechanism used for conducting the medical and dental college entrance examination in the province.
The cabinet will also consider a proposal to amend the Counter Terrorism Wing Service Rules 2026. Another important matter concerns the restoration of helicopter-lift capabilities for rescue and disaster-response operations, which could strengthen emergency response during floods, landslides and other disasters.
The meeting is also scheduled to discuss the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority’s annual report and its presentation before the provincial assembly.
Several financial and development matters are also included in the agenda. These include a monetisation policy for judicial officers and proposals related to World Bank financing for the Flood Resilience Project, including financial support for its irrigation component.
The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Annual Report 2025 is also expected to be presented before the cabinet for consideration.
Another proposal on the agenda seeks to increase compensation for the heirs of martyred religious scholar Maulana Mirza Jan to Rs10 million.
The cabinet will further consider amendments to the West Pakistan Registration Rules and measures for implementing e-registration in the province. A proposal to establish a new tehsil named Umerzai in Charsadda district is also included.
In the education sector, the cabinet will consider the launch of a multisectoral school meal programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, aimed at supporting students through improved access to nutritious meals.
The cabinet’s decision on the MDCAT proposal will be closely watched by medical and dental college aspirants across the province, as any change in the examination system could affect thousands of students seeking admission to medical institutions.
