Psychology in Pakistan
Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. At the time of partition there were only two departments
offering master’s degree in psychology. One at Dacca, East Pakistan, now Bangladesh and the other was
Government College Lahore, affiliated with Punjab University where master’s classes were being held.
Later, RajShahi University in East Pakistan/Bangladesh started offering masters degree and then Punjab
University also set up the Applied Psychology Department. Later post graduate departments were also
opened at Peshawar University, Karachi University and other colleges in Punjab.
The main specializations taught at these institutions were:
o Psychodynamics, particularly the Freudian/Jungian approaches
o Social Psychology
o Clinical Psychology
o Experimental and General Psychology
o Psychological Measurement
Still later a National Institute of Psychology was set up at Islamabad, which undertook research in the areas
of developmental psychology, forensic psychology, psychological measurement, etc. The NIP was later
merged with Islamabad University.
Graduates from these institutions have been employed in the armed forces, the labor departments,
education departments, public service commissions in the public sector, and in private sector, in advertising
and marketing organizations and organizations undertaking research. Most prominent educational
institutions now offer master’s and post master’s courses and degrees. Many graduates from these institutes
are engaged in private practice and consultation.

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Born with personality is an accident but dying as a personality is an achievement.