A leading psychologist and prolific academic writer, Rafia's contributions culminated as a long-serving professor and Chairperson at the Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab Lahore, and the founding director there of the Centre for Clinical Psychology. Her career spanned numerous other notable institutions, such as the University of the Punjab's Kinnaird College for Women (where she gained her BA), Government College Lahore (MA in psychology), Harvard University's Graduate Business School (MEd in psychology and education), and University College London (PhD in psychology). And she had the prestige of numerous other achievements, such as establishing the Department of Applied Psychology at Sind University Hyderabad, the training of administrative staff and overseas executives, the development of scientific grading schemes, membership of NGOs, conducting of psychology examinations, gaining a Fulbright scholarship, and being awarded Government College Lahore's roll of honour.