LAHORE: The Medical and Dental Colleges` Admission Test (MDCAT) was re-conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) throughout Punjab amid tight security on Sunday.

Annoyance was writ large on the faces of candidates who started reaching their centres as early as 6am as they did on Aug 20 when the first test for 2017 session of medical and dental colleges was conducted.

However, the Punjab government decided to re-conduct MDCAT earlier this month after a high-level inquiry found evidences that the question paper was `leaked`in advance.

The number of police personnel outside centres was much more than on Aug 20. There were reports that certain centres could not be sealed on the scheduled time of 8.15am because of the four-tier security arrangements, especially the body search of every candidate. However, the test began at 9am as planned and went off peacefully at 28 centres set up in 13 cities of the province.

There were proper arrangements for the disabled candidates.

However, there were complaints about the waiting area f acilities for the parents of the candidates.Back-up power generators were also provided while close circuit TV(CCTV)cameras,mobile phone jammers and walk-through gates were installed at major centres.

Ambulances and fire brigades were also made available there to counter any untoward incident.

It has been a norm that after sending their children inside the centres, parents and grandparents were seen reciting the Holy Quran and praying for the success of their children at the waiting areas set up nearby.

However, this time the elders accompanying the candidates were seen cursing the elements behind the leak of the question paper merely for financial gains. They also severely criticised the government for not taking appropriate measures in time to prevent such criminal act.

On the direction of the chief minister, senior bureaucrats and government of ficers, including administrative secretaries of various departments monitored the test at designated centres.

UHS acting Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Faisal Masud after monitoring arrangements at various centres in Lahore briefed media at the Punjab University, Wahdat Road Centre.

`Holding MDCAT again was important and crucial as it would ensure merit and justice. We areaware of the hardship and agony the candidates and their parents have f aced,` he said.

New standard operating procedures (SoPs) were developed and fresh multi-tier security measures were taken for each and every step of preparation, printing, p ackaging and transportation of MDCAT paper, said Prof Masud.

`We have done this in just 22 days although it took four to ñve months last time. We developed new question bank as the previous bank had become doubtful. The system has been made more stringent and foolproof,` he said.

The quesdon paper prepared by UHS this time was of single colour code instead of previous four different colour codes.

`The candidates were allowed to bring clipboards with them.

However, along with admittance card these clipboards were taken away from the candidates by the invigilation staff after the test to avert chances of smuggling of questions outside the hall. Af ter conclusion of test time, the number of admittance cards and the answer sheets would be matched to determine attendance of candidates at every centre,` he said.

The aim to make it mandatory for a candidate to produce the CNIC or B-Form in original forentry to the centre concerned was to eliminate the chances of impersonation, said Prof Masud while adding that answer key would be uploaded on the UHS website in the evening while the official results would be announced within the next 10 days. With the help of this key, candidates can calculate their scores themselves.

To a question, Prof Masud said the 2017 academic session at the medical and dental colleges would be late by 15 to 21 days. Soon after declaration of official results, the admission process would start and would be completed by Nov 27 positively, said Prof Masud.

He said as many as 65,155 candidates 41,563 girls and 23,592 boys re-appeared in the test on Sunday.

In Lahore, a total of 12,573 female and 6,705 male candidates appearedinthetestattheBoardof Intermediate and Secondary Education examination halls at Lawrence Road, Punjab University examination halls at Wahdat Road, Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Wahdat Road, Divisional Public School, Model Town, Government Postgraduate College for Women Samanabad, University of Education, Township, Government College of Science, Wahdat Road and Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road.