HYDERABAD: Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah has stressed the critical need for career counseling before students enroll in higher education, observing that many young people choose academic fields based on the wishes of elders rather than their own aptitude. Speaking on Monday at a scholarship disbursement ceremony at the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Convention Centre, Sindh University (SU), he noted that without proper guidance, students often study one discipline and ultimately work in another.
At the ceremony, the SU disbursed Rs525.77 million in scholarships to 1,074 students in a first-of-its-kind mass distribution, with funds sourced from various government departments. The minister, alongside Sindh Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr S.M. Tariq Rafi and SU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Marri, distributed the cheques. Dr Rafi highlighted that higher education remains of fundamental importance for societal and national development.
Recalling his own student days, Sardar Shah shared that while he began writing poetry after entering college, he ultimately enrolled in civil engineering. He remarked that proper career counseling would assist universities in admitting students according to their true interests, thereby producing a more skilled workforce. He emphasized that the primary purpose of education is to foster awareness, critical thinking, and broader societal understanding, urging students to prioritize quality learning over simply securing employment.
Advocating for merit-based financial aid, Sardar Shah cited the provincial government’s recruitment of approximately 100,000 teachers under a transparent system, noting an instance where a candidate from a village lacking a school successfully secured a post.
Sardar Shah stresses career counselling for students
Addressing technological shifts, the minister warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could reduce demand for conventional jobs. “If a robot can perform the work of five people, why will an organization employ five persons?” he asked, clarifying that recent remarks attributed to him regarding AI had been taken out of context.
He urged youth to pursue computer science and emerging technologies to remain relevant in changing job markets. Citing Iran’s investments in laboratory infrastructure and science education, he noted that technical advancement, rather than miracles, drives national resilience. He further referenced youth movements in Bangladesh and India, urging Pakistani students to channel their energy into higher education and positive social change.
While affirming that financial support helps achieve academic goals, the minister cautioned that aid without educational quality would prove counterproductive.
SU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Marri assured that no student would be forced to discontinue studies due to financial constraints, revealing that university faculty, officers, and staff are voluntarily contributing to the fund through monthly salary deductions. Assistant Director of the Students Financial Aid Office Qamar Nangraj briefed the gathering on the distribution system.
Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026
