ISLAMABAD: The huge gap between professional and non professional degree holders is being removed as the number of degrees in social sciences’ discipline is being increased. Unlike the past, more than half students now prefer to seek PhD degrees in social sciences’ discipline. Before the establishment of the Higher Education Commission and in the early days of this autonomous body, the ratio of PhD degree holders in the professional field was more than the ratio of social sciences degree holders but now the trend has changed. In a list provided by an HEC official, currently 2,320 PhD holders are working in Pakistan in different sectors particularly in the teaching profession. However, it has been learnt by Daily Times that many among the PhDs are degree holders in English, Urdu, Arabic, history, economics, international relations, political science, education, psychology and other related social science subjects. The experts are of the view that the country needs professionals more and more. They said that the academics should do research in professional sectors instead of general. Vice Chancellor, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU), Peshawar, Razia Sutana told Daily Times that the field of studies of social sciences was very dynamic. It was expanding constantly, so was the case with the trend and approach to the field of studies. Social sciences had in their scope of studies a multitude of courses for studies or disciplines, to be taken as professional for career building, Sutlana added. She further disclosed that pure sciences disciplines along with computer and management sciences provided the society with professionals who contributed in the collective progress and development of the state and the society. President Academic Staff Association (ASA), of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), Asif Ali said: “We should run fast to catch up with the minimal number of experts needed in the areas of humanities for a lively educated society. This shortage of experts is felt in each and every field of research in the country including science and engineering,” he said. Ali was of the view that for any professional it was essential to have a deep knowledge and without having the highest qualification it was impossible to do so. Chairperson HEC, Mukhtar Ahmed, said that there was a huge gap between the professional and nonprofessional areas of research. He said that the country needs researchers in both the sectors on an equal basis. He added that the old trend had changed now. The people were taking part in the social sciences subjects as well. If it is compared wit the past, a majority of candidates would had preferred to get degrees only in the technical fields like medical, engineering, etc. Ahmed added that the research in the world was being done on an equal basis in all the sectors, adding that mostly the researchers keep in mind the utilities of desiring areas of research. The chairperson further said that the HEC offered a large number of scholarships and incentives to promote research in all areas, adding that there was a 40,000 faculty in all the universities of the country. “This number is not enough for the country varsities’ researchers requirements. We need to produce more researchers”, Ahmed remarked. Replying to a question, the chairperson said that a balanced approach was very integral for the purpose of the country’s development as well as for the prosperity of the masses.