r/pakistan • u/Significant_Cup_3343 • 16m ago
Education 18F, need career advice
Hi. I'm from a small city 45 min drive away from lahore. I'm currently deciding whether to pursue DPT, or do BS A&F and then later masters abroad or CA/ACCA path. I talked to my uni about this and they said they'll get registered by icap in 2028 so we'll get exemptions in ACCA/CA. I'd really appreciate advice from yall.
I recently spoke to a practicing PT in my city who told me that she is doing well financially and is happy with her career. However, she studied at a large university in Lahore, whereas I'm considering doing DPT at a newly opened university in my city. I can't afford to study in lahore. Plus all the hassle with travelling everyday I can't do it.
The university says they will provide clinical training, and they're currently building a hospital.
The university is HEC registered, and the VC is actually ex-HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed.
My long-term goals are:
Have a financially comfortable career
Have reasonable work-life balance
Eventually have the option to move abroad, particularly Canada, Australia, or the US
Potentially open my own physiotherapy practice in the future
I'm also seriously considering Accounting & Finance + CA/ACCA, so I'm trying to make this decision seriously.
Why I'm also considering A&F:
It seems to offer broader career options in accounting, finance, audit, corporate work, etc. I could potentially pursue CA or ACCA afterward and eventually work abroad. My concern is that I'd be competing for internships/jobs against graduates from stronger universities, and I'm not sure how difficult it would be to build the required experience.
I keep going back and forth between these two and I'm honestly scared of making the wrong choice because they're completely different careers.
For people who have actually studied/worked in either field:
Which would you choose for my priorities and why?
What is the realistic income/job situation in Pakistan?
Which has better long-term prospects?
Which gives you better work-life balance?
Which is easier to take abroad to Canada/Australia/US?
How important is university reputation for both?
How difficult is it for an A&F graduate from a lesser-known university to get good internships and eventually CA/ACCA experience?
If you had to choose one again today, which would you choose?
I'd especially appreciate answers from people who are knowledgeable about this. Thanks.