IN the age of globalisation, the world is focussed on quality education, and for this purpose both developed and under-developed countries promote PhDs. A person holding a doctorate is likely to have wide knowledge, diversity, management skills, learning experience, patience and dexterity to deal with a variety of challenges.

Pakistan is a developing country, which needs more doctorates in different academic institutions and in different disciplines. Those having a PhD are required to have capacity enhancement by teaching as well as by undertaking and supervising research in universities.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has a number of programmes for higher education. But, sadly, PhD scholars are not provided the desired postings and their postdoctoral programmes remain stuck in the pipeline. The issue of unemployed and underemployed educated youth is common in most developing countries, and Pakistan is no exception on this count.

According to a recent report, there are 1,200 jobless PhDs in the country. Many of them hold doctorates in highly-specialised science subjects from the world’s best-ranking universities. Most of them got admitted to these universities on merit scholarships and even burnt the proverbial midnight oil to complete their degrees while struggling to make ends meet studying aboard.

They had to work hard to obtain their degrees, and despite their best efforts to get jobs commensurate with their qualifications, they have been absorbed neither by universities nor by industries or any other relevant sector. This is a sheer dilemma that these highly-qualified individuals face despite having put in the hard miles.

This is not surprising considering our society and culture, where social ailments, such as favouritism, nepotism and corruption, are very much a part of our culture. Unfortunately, those who doctor their doctorate qualifications have a better chance of getting jobs than those who have worked seriously hard to attain higher education.

The level of anxiety and frustration among the highly educated is a malady as it is affecting not only the minds of the educated, but also discouraging the acquisition of education in the young impressionable minds. Frankly, the unemployed educated has always been a demotivating factor for many.

The relevant quarters say several universities have been facing financial crunch, and, therefore, are unable to absorb the PhDs. In the current scenario, the educational system is trying its best to meet international standards by adopting novel and international trends imbued with academic plans. Such positive changes can be adopted with the help of those who have studied abroad and have had exposure to modern trends by way of having spent years in the developed world.

PhDs have a bright future in Pakistan in the academia and industrial sector because this is an age of specialisation where doctorates in different disciplines, like Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, and Social Sciences, can contribute to the development of the academia.

Besides the academic field, the development sector is another ground for PhDs to find a career, develop projects and invest their time in uplifting the economic and social status of society. The third and most important area for those having doctorates is entrepreneurship where they can use their research ideas based on the opportunities, needs and choices based on age, gender and ethnicity.

Pakistan has a vibrant market, and academic entrepreneurs can easily implement their ideas to boost business. By establishing trade, they will contribute to the economy by creating employment opportunities.

The HEC was established in 2002 to overcome severe shortage of PhD scholars. Before the inception of the commission, there was a shortage of 38,000 PhDs. The HEC sent a large number of students to renowned international universities on scholarship, but those having doctorates obtained on scholarships returned to serve the country with zeal only to have their dreams shattered. It is time public and private sectors utilised the expertise of these talented individuals, and gave them a chance to serve the country.

Dr Imran Ahmed Shah
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2022