LARKANA: Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) has requested the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to lower admission criteria for MBBS and BDS for the 2025-26 session. The move aims to fill around 350 vacant seats in private medical and dental colleges across Sindh. Last month, the SMBBMU registrar sent a letter to the PMDC highlighting that many seats remained unfilled because students failed to meet the current admission standards. The current passing marks set by PMDC are 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS. The registrar noted that last year, a 5% reduction helped fill more seats, but this year fewer candidates meet the criteria, and vacant seats have increased. He recommended dropping the passing marks further to 45% for MBBS and 40% for BDS to ensure all seats are used and to support ongoing medical education and healthcare needs in Sindh. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Sindh Health Secretary, LUMHS Jamshoro, the SMBBMU Vice Chancellor, and the chairperson of the Supervising & Steering Committee of Sindh. SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nusrat Shah confirmed sending the request but said no reply from PMDC has been received yet.