Rising education costs, examination controversies and limited postgraduate residency places are raising questions about medicine’s appeal among young Pakistanis…writes Dr SaKariya Kareem For generations of Pakistani families, becoming a doctor has represented more than a professional achievement. It has promised social standing, financial security and a career built around public service. Yet the numbers entering the country’s medical admission race tell a different story. Applications for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) have fallen sharply, raising questions about whether medicine still offers young Pakistanis the future they once imagined. Official figures show that MDCAT registrations declined from 204,253