To dream is to be human! However, very few of us take the leap of faith and do what is necessary to go out and chase our dreams down. PUAN alumnus Zafar Syed is one of those very few people. He hails from a village named Sino in Tehsil Mashabrum which is one of the most backward areas of Gilgit Baltistan. It was his childhood dream to go to the United States for educational as well as cultural experience.
He has a genuine admiration for outstanding universities and the pluralistic society of the States. Zafar went to the U.S. on the Global UGRAD Program. His dream transformed into a reality when he got selected for the said program. He completed his Diploma in Economic and Finance from Upper Iowa University and was placed in the University Dean’s list owing to his outstanding grades.
Zafar has passion for public service, and as per him, UGRAD program further boosted his passion and instilled in him the new ideas regarding how to serve the communities. During his stay in the States, he engaged himself with the local community organizations in Fayette, Iowa and remained involved in various volunteering programs.
In terms of personal life, Zafar faced a few challenges when he moved to Islamabad to get quality education. This was the reason that he has been continuously arranging seminars for the students after his return from the U.S. In the seminars arranged by him, the students and even professionals are briefed and guided about selection of their study fields and different scholarship programs.
Zafar is very much inspired by the Judicial system of the U.S. Currently, he is practicing law in various courts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Zafar is known at his Law Firm for handling pro bono cases where he has been successfully fighting for the rights of the deserving people who are not financially sound to hire a counsel / lawyer.
Since his return to Pakistan, Zafar shared his experience of the exchange program on various occasions, and he always appreciates the helping nature of the American people, their friendly persona and multiculturalism in American society.
