Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: Dear Sir, after reading your recent column, I decided to seek guidance for my daughter. She is currently pursuing a 4-year honors degree in Microbiology. Could you please advise on the future prospects and scope of this field? (Zaeem Masood - Rawalpindi)

Ans: Dear Mr Zaeem, Microbiology is an innovative and emerging field. After completing her bachelor's degree, I recommend she consider pursuing a Master's in Genetics or DNA Analysis, which falls under Genomics. This will enable her to engage in research on various viruses and collaborate with those developing new drugs, as there is substantial demand in this area.

Q2: Dear Mr Abidi, I aspire to become a professional engineer, but I am torn between choosing Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Could you kindly advise on which field has better scope? (Jawad Rasul - Peshawar)

Ans: Dear Mr Jawad, I advise you to consider Mechatronics, which combines Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. This field will provide you with a competitive edge over specialising in a single discipline. You can explore this subject further on the internet for more details.

Q3: Dear Mr Abidi, I have been working as a professional accountant at a multinational company in Faisalabad for the past nine years. Now, I intend to pursue a Law/LLB degree and aspire to practice law. Could you kindly advise me on how to obtain a degree without attending classes, as I cannot leave my job? Your guidance will greatly assist me in making an informed decision. (Faizan Waqar - Gujrat)

Ans: Dear Mr Faizan, considering your academic qualifications and extensive experience, I recommend avoiding a general law degree. Given your background as an accountant, I suggest focusing on Corporate Law or Tax Law. You can explore institutions offering these specialisations online.

Q4: Dear Sir, I scored 77% in Intermediate Pre-Medical after a one-year improvement. Despite my strong desire to join a medical college, I have been unable to secure a spot due to high merit requirements. I am now torn between two career options: BS Psychology or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Could you please advise on the scope of these career paths in Pakistan? (Sadaf Saeed – (Nankana Sahab)

Ans: Dear Sadaf, if you aspire to work in the field of medical science without pursuing an MBBS, it is a wise decision. I recommend opting for a 4-year honors degree in Microbiology or Biochemistry. These fields will allow you to work in hospitals alongside doctors as a health specialist or pathologist, addressing the high demand in these areas.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented

Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).