PAKISTAN’S population largely comprised the young and the middle-aged. These are age groups having people who are at a defining stage of their careers. For the young who have just finished, or about to start, professional studies, need career guidance.

Much to our dismay, we don’t have proper career counselling services and platforms to guide the youth. Across the globe, particularly in the developed countries, there are well-defined and specialised career counselling departments providing an insightful perspective to students on various careers. Experts from various walks of life should shed light on different opportunities and career directions for youth.

Barring a few cities, Pakistan lacks in such services, and most students end up landing in jobs that do not match their interests and also affect productivity at work.

It is time all universities strived to create career counselling sections where students can drop their resumes and the career counselling sections have links with important and major employers. This multi-faceted approach can help students acquire the right employment.

Furthermore, leading organisations should conduct periodic career sessions at forums where candidates are shortlisted and given entry-level employment.

In this respect, online programmes can help immensely.

Kaleem Ahmed
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2020