Sarfraz Ahmed is applying to study for a master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering. He completed his bachelor's degree in Geology in Pakistan. Sarfraz chose to study abroad in China for his master's degree due to better research opportunities and facilities in China compared to Pakistan. Studying in China will also enhance his career opportunities given China's investment in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Sarfraz is interested in Geotechnical Engineering due to its applications in infrastructure projects and its potential to improve construction safety standards in Pakistan.

1. “Study Plan”
My Personality:
The five words that I feel best describe me are resilient, ambitious, optimistic, determined,
and humble. I always like to do any task keenly. I have an adaptability to work under different
circumstances. Besides that I always feel very joyous and fortunate to meet and greet people
belonging to different backgrounds and cultures. I am able to work well both in a team
environment as well as using own initiative.
Personal Profile:
I, Sarfraz Ahmed, belong to State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan. I am a resident
of Muzaffarabad. Being a distant place along tense border of India and Pakistan, it is void of
necessary educational facilities. As such, very few students reach a high level of education, the
majority of them quit before high school level. I was the first person from my village that
touched the university level.
Family Background:
We are 07 member’s family; Parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. My father is Government
Employee, whereas my mother is a house wife.
Academic Background:
I got my early education from local school of Grammar Public High School
Muzaffarabad.
After due consideration, I thought it proper to excel in the field of Geology. The reasons were
obvious. Pakistan has unlimited mineral, coal, oil and gas resources. A lot of effort is required
for exploration of these resources so that it could be used for the development of my homeland. I
wish I may contribute to my maximum in this regard. For that I got admission in the University
of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad and completed my four year degree of BS Geology.
Research Interests:
The final project at university and attended lectures, seminars and laboratory practices
interested me in Geo-Technical Engineering and Engineering Geology to learn more of these
areas. I realized that the techniques and the tools used there overlap. Therefore, I have taken
liberty to quote these broad areas as core Research interests of mine.

2. The specialization in Geo-Technical Engineering and Applied Engineering Geology, I
continue my Master’s Degree in Geology and Engineering Field that is Geotechnical
Engineering. My study will be focused on my past thesis work and internship. I want to explore
more in different fields related to Geology and Geotechnical engineering. I would like to gain
more knowledge on wider spectrum of rock use e.g., Physical and Mechanical behavior of
different types of rocks and their uses in construction, stratigraphy, underground nature of rocks.
After completion of my Master’s Degree I will able to promote awareness in my country in field
of Geotechnical Engineering. I hope this Master program will enhance my experience to deal
with situations and should be very useful in my future building.
On October 8, 2005 thousands of men died in my home state Azad Jammu & Kashmir
due to poor construction. In my country constructions in respect of Geotechnical Engineering
have been started in recent years. So I also like to do research in Geotechnical Engineering to
minimize the poor construction and its effect as well.
During my Internships, I came to know that there are vast practical applications of the
Geotechnical Engineering. Geotechnical Engineering expertise is critical to all types of civil
Engineering projects such as tunnels, dams, mines, quarries, offshore platforms and wind farms.
Under China, Pakistan Economic corridor (CPEC) number of such projects of construction of
road and hydropower other projects are underway.
Through Geotechnical Engineering I will be able to know the techniques which will
prove a great help in my future career contribute to the development at a national level. As
quoted above that petrology is also most important for the selection of suitable rocks for building
stones so these subjects are overlapping.
Utmost educational objective:
Many of my colleagues have joined the corporate sector soon after completion of their
BS degree, but it is not sufficient to become beneficial for the Country in real sense. Higher
education is much required.
After carefully considering my aptitude, interests, the nature of my training and my
ultimate professional ambition, I have decided to pursue a Higher education in Earth Science,
ultimately leading to a career in research. I feel that it is this kind of life that I am best suited for.
I think I have enough motivation to see me through the challenges of the arduous but an

3. exhilarating career in research. For that I decided to first complete MS degree and then think
about the PhD. I intend to complete these degrees in China.
Choice of Study Abroad:
I have done a lot of research about program of Geology in Pakistan. Though six universities
in Pakistan are offering a master degree program in Geology but the problems in master program
here in Pakistan inclined me to have the master degree from China. Some of the problems are
mentioned below;
The research culture in the my country is still far from being inspiring and is adversely
influenced by a lack of third party supervision and a dearth of quality academic professionals. This
has continuously affected the caliber of Pakistani students. A lot of problems are faced by
Pakistani researchers during the process of research, but some of them are given here;
Lack of confidence to take up a New Study
Insufficient data
Inadequate facilities
Library management is poor
Records are not provided by authorities
Journals are not available
Inappropriate data analysis techniques
High cost of publishing
Extra time and money consuming
Pakistan spends 2.4% GDP on education. At the national level, 89% education
expenditure comprises of current expenses such as teachers’ salaries, while only 11% comprises
of development expenditure which is not sufficient to raise the quality of education and research
as well. While China, being a bigger economy than Pakistan, spends more than 4% GDP that’s
meant more expenditure on education better research oriented environment.
Enhancing employment opportunities:
In 2014, China and Pakistan signed a wide-ranging development program namely, China
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This is a comprehensive development program that entails

4. the linking of Gwadar Port to China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang through highways,
railways, oil and gas pipelines, and an optical fiber link. Besides physical links connecting
Pakistan and China, the project also envisages establishing several economic zones along the
corridor. A power production is also the part of CPEC in the field of energy cooperation. Projects
of 21,690 MW power productions will be undertaken with the assistance of China under the
CPEC plan, including Coal, Wind, Hydel and Solar energy.
In addition, currently a large number of Chinese companies and about 20,000 to 25,000
Chinese engineers and technicians are working in Pakistan on these projects and more are
arriving by the day. These companies prefer the professionals having degree from Chinese
universities. Recently, Ministry of Planning & Development of Pakistan issued a gazette
says, “CPEC is offering 30, 0000 jobs.” Keeping in mind that the majority of companies
handling CPEC are Chinese and degree from China would be proved a gateway to enter
these job opportunities.
As China has one of the best research based education system and the degree from China
would provide a pedagogic aptitude leading to a career in teaching and research.
Moreover, Pakistan - China interactions have historically been limited to mostly inter-
governmental contact, with limited people-to-people interactions, which has been identified as
one of the core weaknesses in the durability of the two countries’ relations. In order to
effectively channel this cooperation, it is extremely important to seriously harmonize both the
Pakistani and Chinese cultures through regular people-to-people contact and the degree from
Chinese university will provide me a broad spectrum for understanding the Chinese
culture and tradition bridging me with higher authorities of Chinese companies working
on projects under CPEC.
Why China?
The following aspects drove me to choose China as my destination for higher education;
According to QS World University Ranking 2018, fifty Chinese universities are included in
world top universities. Out of these fifty universities, seven universities are running the geology
program that ignited me a lot as well as China is the country that provides education and research
friendly environment.

5. There is a vital need to understand how the Chinese procedure and techniques for research
that are being used and the direction it is moving in because China is engaged in Frontline
research on worldwide.
Chinese government and universities provide facilities towards international students such as
fully funded scholarships and the people of China are very welcoming and amicable.
Being a student of geology, it is quite attractive for me that China has unique geology and 44
national geological parks e.g. Shilin Geopark in Yunnan Province and Huangshan Geopark in
Anhui Province etc.
Being a Pakistani, China is the only country for me regarded as a second home across the
world as diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan are ideal and propitious. While in case
of accessibility, China is the first preference for me.
Education from China provides me an assurance of safe future because the project of China
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is going on in Pakistan that is a mega project and is being
handled by Chinese companies.
China is advancing in every sector of life including science and technology, education and
research, food and agriculture, manufacturing and processing, etc. Chinese economy has also
taken massive strides within the globalized world. It is believed that China will define the future
of the whole world.
The living style and transport in China are quite economical and affordable.
Closing Remarks:
The Department of Earth Science at your university is a distinguished sign to study the Earth
Science. The department faculty consists of leading researchers engaged in Frontline research.
The research interests of the faculty are extremely compatible with those of mine. I shall be glad
to be a part of the group and contribute my bit to the leading research being carried out at your
reputable university.
An opportunity to work in the stimulating environment at your university will certainly make a
satisfying experience and an honor for me. In terms of research facilities also, a university like
yours has more to offer to a graduate student. But my plan is tentative and can be molded in
the future as per your guidance.
Sarfraz Ahmed.