Initially I had a goal to become a scientist like Thomas Edison in Pakistan. I have almost graduated out from my college [Bachelors in Civil Engg] and was thinking of applying for graduate studies. I wanted to establish my own industrial research-oriented lab here in Pakistan and had an urge for new inventions in my field. Now after this Peshawar incident , I think I should opt for CSS and join the Police Department. These are the reasons for it :

My parents want me to go for CSS as they believe I have the capacity and talent for it. They believe that my talents can be well-invested for Pakistan if I go for civil services.

My Principal (Tahira Qazi Shaheed) also wanted me to do CSS. She was heavily against MS from abroad.

Since childhood , I had a fascination to join fighting force. I never wanted to become a scientist and never liked it. But I had this intention of joining a fighting force in my future life.

The Peshawar School Attack has forced me to think over it again and I've started to believe that I can well perform in Police force of Pakistan [I'm inspired by Malik Saad Shaheed] .Under these circumstances , what would you recommend me ?

Since you've asked for a sincere advice,allow me to be a little open.

1)As far as choosing one of the two options is concerned,You should really do what your heart tells you to do.People seem to take this fact for granted,but your heart knows what is good for you,so follow it.

2)If you believe in calculations(You should,You are an engineer!),then you should go for the profession where you think you can serve your nation in a better way(You sound patriotic!)

3)Your parents and teachers are the only people in this world who really want the best for you and who truly know your potential so it will not be bad to listen to them and try to make them happy.

4)Lastly,the first step is to take the exam and you will have quite much time to finalize your decision afterwards, so I suggest that you "Take the Exam"
It can serve as a learning experience...

Decisions free of emotions are the lasting decisions in life.
If you wish to reach at lasting decision in your life then exclude "emotional factor" from your decisions and aim rationally.

If you want to serve this nation then this country is in dire need of best minds in science & research. The best scientist is better than a Guard. We have already better guards available but the existing system is hurdle in their performance.


If joining forces life is your passion then passion prevails. Don't suppress your passion because you won’t find satisfaction in any other career if you don't achieve your dream world.


Now Passion or Patriotism?

__________________
"Tumhary nafs ki qeemat Janat hay isy Janat say kam qeemat pey na bechna."
"Jiyo to istarh ky log tum sy milny ko tarsy; maro to istrah k log tumharee mot par royain"

Now this is a sage advice. Put aside the emotions, assess your passion & then think rationally about the highlighted part of the above post.

@Raz: Another brilliant post sir!

It seems you have just graduated. We, the Pakistani students, has a dearth of "exposure" of what's the real scenario of the things.
I bet, if you get a handsome job with good salary, you will be satisfied after working for merely 2 years that the knowledge and experience gained is better then doing M.S. Because on doing job (if it's your own technical field), you can beat even a PhD scholar in arguments, who hasn't done any job.

As far as CSS is concerned. Again it's all about exposure and taking chances.
Who knows after joining as CSP you forget everything about doing research.
Or may be just after giving your exams, you get such a job that you forget about CSS even if you somehow succeed in clearing the exam.

So, it's all about taking chances. Finally Allah knows what is better to you and what will suit you and your interests. Nothing can be said definitely.

__________________
If I am what I have and if I lose what I have, who then am I?

Really. Do We ? Thanks to our 'better guards' that we are living in such a environment where our life's security is uncertain. A group of Taliban comes in from nowhere breaching the very boundaries of fortified school and kills my brother in cold blood under the very eyes of 'better guards'. And as I stand outside the school where this genocide is taking place , pleading and begging the nice looking Police Officials with shiny stars on their shoulders to take action and these 'better guards' seem helpless. They answer like sissy girls out of their extreme cowardice that everything is being taken care of when I hear that my brother's body had arrived in CMH two hours ago. Are you really talking about these 'better guards' ? Seriously. If you claim them to be 'better guards' , I'd prefer to live in a country without them than to live with a thought that they are guarding my life against bad people.

Thanks for your suggestions though. And sorry for sounding rude. But I cannot agree on your statement that we have 'better guards' available. Cause we Dont.

What actually drives me towards CSS is not its charm but its immediate role in Government's policy. I have a profuse desire to serve my nation with full sincerity and do something extraordinary. As a matter of fact , I have been inspired by many PSPs and most of them were from my city. Even so , one of the PSP( Malik Saad Shaheed) was my classmate's father. Such personal interaction and the ideals by which they lived coupled with the problems I faced and still face have heavily influenced me. It's just that I tend to think that being a PSP I can be more of service than being a scientist.

Fact is that. When we face the practical life situations, we tend to lose our hopes.
Patriotism, Serving nation selflessly...These are good things. But remember one thing, this "Money is everything" situation will haunt you throughout your life. In your career , you will see a "Matric Fail" rich business tycoon, will remove you from your post, with only one phone call. Or you will be transferred daily from your city. Moving city to city daily with your luggages will drive you a point of saturation. You will feel, despite of changing something, you are just changing your cities and the system is in the same position you left it 30 years prior to your joining.
I am not making you hopeless, but I am telling you a "possibility" and truth faced by every one here in our countries.

You have to consider everything in your upcoming life i.e Patriotism, Passion,as well Your personal financial life. Never try to escape this thing in your plans or what we say "Tadbeer".
Consider everything then decide.Because these are such things when it's likely that all your emotions will get faded with time.
Finally

فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ

" Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in Allah"

__________________
If I am what I have and if I lose what I have, who then am I?

Dear emotion driven brother, i think i won't be wrong if i assume that you are inclined towards PSP or CSS after being through the grand massacre of our children and brothers in the most condemnable Peshawar incident.

Dear, you are the most concerned person regarding your future and you should be!

Here are some humble observations i draw from your query:
1. I am unable to understand that you are a civil engineer who wants to become a scientist like Thomas Edison in Pakistan.
2. You were thinking to apply for graduate studies and establish your own industrial research-oriented lab in Pakistan
3. Peshawar incident, your parents, and your Principal (Tahira Qazi Shaheed) want you to opt for CSS.
4. You want to become a scientist whereas, you had fascination to join fighting force too!!! ?? You wanted to become Pakistan's Thomas Edition but never wanted to become a scientist and never liked it. (I am just making my point, not criticizing you)

Now my dear, No ONE can advice you anything better than yourself.

You should first enlighten yourself what do u want to do!, A scientist, a fighter (army men), or a PSP.
If you are opting PSP to make a change and serve Pakistan, pardon me, your view is very narrowed.
If you want to become a scientist, have the potential, i think that is a wider prospective. You may get back to Pakistan after completing your higher studies. (Like our Quaid did)
and serve the nation and instead of become a martyr fighting some corrupt, criminals or taliban (I would say charsis, bhangis, smugglers); become a living legend like Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan who made us and Pakistan INVINCIBLE !!!