Syed Abidi to lead AFEIC Pakistan as Patron-in-Chief
Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi, a renowned educationist, career counsellor and international education professional, has accepted the offer to serve as Patron-in-Chief of AFEIC Pakistan (Association of Foreign Education and Industry Consultants) following several meetings and requests from the association’s management.
AFEIC Pakistan, which claims a substantial membership base with representation from across the country, has expressed its honour and confidence in working under Abidi’s leadership to take the association to the next level and establish it as a credible, ethical and professionally governed representative body for Pakistan’s international education consultancy sector.
As Patron-in-Chief, Syed Abidi is expected to provide strategic leadership and guidance on key priorities, including the development of an appropriate legal and organisational framework, a comprehensive code of conduct, ethical advertising and promotional practices, and nationwide training and professional development programmes for education consultants.
Speaking to The News, Abidi said it was time for the government to recognise and understand the growing importance of international education consultancy, which had evolved into a significant industry in Pakistan.
He emphasised that the sector urgently needed a transparent and effective regulatory framework to protect students and parents, promote ethical practices, and establish clear professional standards for those providing international education guidance and consultancy services.
Over the years, several incidents involving fraudulent practices, misleading advice and unscrupulous agents have reportedly caused considerable financial losses to parents and families. Beyond the loss of their hard-earned money, students affected by such practices may also experience severe psychological distress and other adverse consequences.
Abidi stressed that protecting students and parents must be a central priority for the industry, adding that professional accountability, ethical conduct and informed career guidance were essential to restoring public confidence in international education consultancy.
In this context, a regulatory framework and white paper prepared by Syed Abidi several years ago are now reportedly under consideration at the Prime Minister’s level. The initiative seeks to address longstanding gaps in governance, accountability and consumer protection within the sector. Its renewed consideration offers an opportunity to advance meaningful reforms and establish a more structured and responsible system for international student consultancy in Pakistan.
Abidi is widely recognised for his longstanding contribution to career counselling, international education and professional training. His work has involved supporting students in making informed educational and career choices, promoting international education opportunities, and contributing to the development of professional practices in the sector. His experience extends across educational institutions, private consultancies, university representations, regional offices and organisations involved in youth development and education services.
His appointment as Patron-in-Chief is therefore being viewed by the association as a significant step towards strengthening its strategic direction, professional credibility and national representation.
Speaking about his vision for AFEIC Pakistan, Abidi said he hoped to help build a high-quality, ethical and nation-building association that would contribute meaningfully to the development of Pakistan’s youth and human capital.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring that students pursuing education abroad were adequately guided, professionally supported and equipped to contribute to Pakistan’s progress, whether they chose to return home or apply their knowledge and skills internationally.
“The objective should be to transform the narrative of brain drain into brain gain by ensuring that international education creates lasting value for individuals, Pakistan and the wider global community,” he said. Under his leadership, AFEIC Pakistan aims to promote greater professionalism, strengthen ethical standards, encourage responsible business practices and support the development of a regulatory environment that protects students while enabling legitimate education consultants to operate with confidence and credibility.
The association has also announced that an event will soon be organised to formally welcome Syed Abidi as Patron-in-Chief and acknowledge his contribution to career counselling and international education. The event will also provide an opportunity to highlight his recently published book, Understanding Career Counselling: A Practical Guide for Parents, Students, Counsellors and Service Providers. Further details of the event and the book are expected to be shared with the media in due course.
The appointment marks a potentially important step in AFEIC Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen the international education consultancy sector, promote responsible professional conduct and contribute to a more transparent, student-centred and internationally credible education environment in Pakistan.
