Islamabad: According to a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, becoming a doctor is the most preferred career aspiration for Pakistani parents for their children (25%), followed by becoming a teacher (13%) and a businessperson (12%).

A nationally representative sample of parents whose children are currently studying in school was asked the question: 'What would you like your child to become when he/she grows up?' In response, 25% said they would like their child to become a doctor, 13% selected teacher, 12% chose businessperson, and 11% preferred a career in the Army/Police. While 5% each chose engineering and the religious field. 3% preferred a CSS Government Officer career, and 1% selected an IT/computer field. Another 7% selected other careers, 17% said they did not know, while 1% of respondents gave no response.

Overall, the findings show that medicine remains the leading career aspiration among Pakistani parents, with teaching, business, and Army/Police also attracting substantial preference. Career aspirations vary notably across generations and locations, with younger parents showing particularly strong preferences for medicine, while older parents display greater interest in business, public service, and religious careers.

The study in Pakistan was conducted and released by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 1415 married men and women, in urban and rural areas of all four provinces of the country, conducted from March 18, 2026 to March 31, 2026. The error margin is estimated to be approximately ± 2-3 percent at the 95% confidence level. The methodology used for data collection was telephonic surveys (CATI).

Gender Breakdown: Female respondents show somewhat greater preference for their child becoming a doctor (27%) compared with male respondents (22%), while teaching is also more popular among women (15%) than men (11%). Men, meanwhile, are more likely to prefer business (14%) and a religious career (7%), compared with 10% and 3%, respectively, among women.

Educational Breakdown: Parents with less than FA education are more likely to want their child to become a doctor (26%), compared with 18% among FA+ educated parents. Among FA+ educated parents,

16% selected other career options, compared with 6% among those with less than FA education, indicating a somewhat broader range of career aspirations among the more educated group.

Age Breakdown: A clear generational difference emerges in parents' career aspirations. 37% of parents under 30 want their child to become a doctor, compared with just 12% among parents aged 50 and above. Younger parents also show a notably higher preference for business (27%) than parents aged 50+ (19%), while older parents are more likely to favor Army/Police (17%) and teaching (12%), compared with 7% and 3%, respectively, among parents under 30.

Gilani Research Foundation is a not-for-profit public service project to provide social science research to students, academia, policymakers, and concerned citizens in Pakistan and across the globe

Overall, the findings show that medicine remains the leading career aspiration among Pakistani parents, with teaching, business, and Army/Police also attracting substantial preference. Career aspirations vary notably across generations and locations, with younger parents showing particularly strong preferences for medicine, while older parents display greater interest in business, public service, and religious careers.

Gilani Research Foundation is headed by Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani who pioneered the field of opinion polling in Pakistan and established Gallup Pakistan in 1980. Currently, Dr. Gilani, who holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has taught at leading universities in Pakistan and abroad, is Chairman of Gallup Pakistan

Gallup Pakistan is not related to Gallup Inc. headquartered in Washington D.C. USA. We require that our surveys be credited fully as Gallup Pakistan (not Gallup or Gallup Poll). We disclaim any responsibility for surveys pertaining to Pakistani public pinion except those carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International Association.