Career Counselling: Why Pakistani children can't choose their desired profession?

 Most parents in Pakistan decide what field their children want to pursue when they grow up before their children are born. Once upon a time, doctors and engineers were at the top, but with the passage of time, there has been a slight change in this thinking and the list of professions has also increased.

 Fatima Afzal is a successful marketing manager and she too has gone through a similar experience.

 My parents wanted me to become a doctor because both my siblings were doctors. However, I was not interested in becoming a doctor. I didn't even know what I wanted to be and what I should study.

 He further said that 'Well, I studied in the best school in a small town, but because I was not very worthy like my siblings, I used to hear phrases from parents and teachers that you Who did you go to? I don't know if your unworthiness will allow you to become something or not.

 "I was never told what I could do other than being a doctor. There was no career counseling in college either. I studied science but due to non-admission in medicine, I had to study biology in university because I didn't know what else I could do.

 Fatima Afzal says that 'this pressure gave me an advantage in that I developed an interest in studying different types of subjects in the university, due to which I chose my career in the subject that seemed the most interesting and the result of them. It turns out that I am successful and satisfied today.'

 Like Fatima, not everyone can do what they want. Ali Raza became a doctor on the wish of his parents. They wanted to do CSS.  

He is working as a doctor in a government hospital in Lahore, but he still thinks that he should give up the medical profession by taking the competitive exam.

 Why can't children choose the profession of their choice?

The story of Fatima and Ali is similar to the story of almost every other child in Pakistan. All children hear sentences from who wanted to be what and what became to what should be.

 If you look at the education system of Pakistan, only a few specific subjects are taught till school and college. These include science, mathematics, computer and other basic subjects.

 Most of the children are unaware of what subjects exist apart from these subjects. Most educational institutions including parents do not introduce the child to different types of subjects which limits their thinking to a certain extent.

 The BBC spoke to a number of students, of whom more than 90 per cent did not know what subjects they would need to study for the career they wanted to choose.

 Alain Fatima is an A Level student studying Science. She wanted to become an astronaut. While his parents wanted him to become a doctor.

 She said that I wanted to become an astronaut, but I did not know what I would have to study for it. I didn't get any kind of guidance till O-level. Yes, however, after coming to A-level, I met a career counselor. When I told her that I want to become an astronaut, she said that there is not much trend for it in Pakistan, so you have to go out of Pakistan and take admission in a university in another country. After which I myself started researching about it on the internet. If I am not successful in this, then I will think of something else.

 One of the other reasons is that most people in our society associate traditional careers with earning and prestigious professions.

  Kanza is a student of Anjum Intermediate. She wants to study literature so that she can become a writer. But his mother wants him to become a doctor while his brother wants him to become a computer engineer.

 Kanza is a student of Anjum Intermediate. She wants to study literature so that she can become a writer. But his mother wants him to become a doctor while his brother wants him to become a computer engineer.

 Kanza says, "In our country, if a child chooses a career other than the traditional profession, he is said to have no money in it." How will you earn and anyway such professions are not considered good.

 Not only this, but talking about skilled education, Kanza said, "I know some people who want to become chefs, but they are told that you will become a cook?" This also became a profession.

 People also call fashion designing as sewing work. We people have associated something or the other with every profession. Due to which children are afraid to choose a career of their How important is guidance and counseling in choosing a career?

 Rachel Hasan works as a teacher in a private university in Lahore. Along with this, she also guides the children in all subjects and careers.

 He believes that children are not able to choose the career of their choice because 'in our country, children depend on their parents.' Their parents bear the cost of their education. Due to which they have to consider their choice too.

 He further said that it is true that in most of our educational institutions, especially schools, it is not customary to give career guidance to children, whereas in most of the developed countries of the world, this process is started from childhood.  

And the parents as well as the teachers have more responsibility for this process because they can help the child to develop it further by seeing their passion and talent.

 He further said that 'if parents show confidence in their child's choice and educational institutions guide the child properly, the child can become a successful professional.'

 "There were not so many subjects and professions in our time"

 The BBC also spoke to several parents to get their views on the matter. The reaction of some was that 'if we ask children to choose a particular profession, we say it thinking of their improvement, thinking of their bright future.'

 Muhammad Arif has two children and is working as a manager in a bank. His elder daughter is a student of 10th standard and his son is studying in 7th standard

 Some of Jab's parents also said that it is also true that in our time there were not so many subjects and different types of professions. The ones we know we tell our children.

 Muhammad Arif has two children and is working as a manager in a bank. His elder daughter is a student of 10th standard and his son is studying in 7th standard.

 Talking to the BBC, he said, "I am self-educated and continue to guide my children in their studies and careers."

  But still my daughter doesn't know what she wants to do next. Whereas my son wants to join the army.  

I asked him what will you do if you can't do it, he said then I will do CSS. But he doesn't know what he will study then it will become.

 He further said that in our family, my son has seen officers and soldiers and that is the reason why he wants to be like them.  

But there are many children who do not have someone to tell and guide them at home or in the family. In this case, the role of educational institutions is important. But the sad thing is that there is no concept of career counseling in schools.

 "Many parents, including myself, say that children can do whatever they want, but no one gives children complete freedom."