Universities in Pakistan ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 249 Universities in Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is divided into 4 provinces, 2 autonomous territories, and 1 federal territory, which are further subdivided into divisions. The majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the provinces of Punjab, which hosts the capital and second-largest city, Lahore; Sindh, with its largest city, Karachi; and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whose capital is Peshawar. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all provinces that include at least one Pakistani higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Azad Kashmir (7)  
Balochistan (11)  
Gilgit-Baltistan (2)  
Islamabad CT (23)  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (40)  
Punjab (92)  
Sindh (74)  

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Overview of Pakistan Universities

Pakistan's higher education system comprises public and private institutions regulated by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Public universities receive government funding and offer subsidized tuition, while private institutions operate independently with higher fees. The system includes comprehensive universities (offering diverse disciplines) and specialized institutions (focusing on fields like technology, business or health sciences). Most universities emphasize research alongside teaching, with STEM fields being particularly prominent.

Top 10 Pakistan Universities

1. Lahore University of Management Sciences (لاہور یونیورسٹی آف مینجمنٹ سائنسز) - LUMS: Country Rank #1, World Rank #1721. Located in Lahore, Punjab (Est. 1985). Private control.
2. Aga Khan University (آغا خان یونیورسٹی) - AKU: Country Rank #2, World Rank #1799. Located in Karachi, Sindh (Est. 1983). Private control.
3. University of the Punjab (جامعہ پنجاب) - PU: Country Rank #3, World Rank #2123. Located in Lahore, Punjab (Est. 1882). Public control.
4. National University of Sciences and Technology (نیشنل یونیورسٹی آف سائنس اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی) - NUST: Country Rank #4, World Rank #2262. Located in Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory (Est. 1991). Public control.
5. COMSATS University Islamabad (کامسیٹس یونیورسٹی اسلام آباد) - CUI: Country Rank #5, World Rank #3079. Located in Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory (Est. 2000). Public control.
6. Institute of Business Administration (بزنس ایڈمنسٹریشن انسٹی ٹیوٹ) - IBA: Country Rank #6, World Rank #3129. Located in Karachi, Sindh (Est. 1955). Public control.
7. University of Central Punjab (جامعہ وسطی پنجاب) - UCP: Country Rank #7, World Rank #3308. Located in Lahore, Punjab (Est. 2002). Private control.
8. National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (نیشنل یونیورسٹی آف کمپیوٹر اینڈ ایمرجنگ سائنسز) - NUCES: Country Rank #8, World Rank #3649. Located in Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory (Est. 1980). Private control.
9. University of Management and Technology (یونیورسٹی آف مینجمنٹ اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی) - UMT: Country Rank #9, World Rank #3898. Located in Lahore, Punjab (Est. 1990). Private control.
10. Quaid-i-Azam University (جامعہ قائداعظم) - QAU: Country Rank #10, World Rank #3904. Located in Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory (Est. 1965). Public control.

Analysis of University Types

Pakistan has 249 universities. Public institutions dominate with 145 universities (58.2% of total), while private universities comprise 104 institutions (41.8% of total). This reflects a balanced mix of government-supported education and private sector participation in higher learning.

Global Ranking and Standing

Currently no Pakistani universities rank among the global top 200 institutions. Similarly, none appear in the global top 1,000 rankings. This indicates significant opportunity for international competitiveness growth among Pakistan's higher education institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Pakistan's #1 ranked university?
A: Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) holds Pakistan's top position according to uniRank.

Q: Are public or private universities better in Pakistan?
A: Both sectors have leading institutions. LUMS (private) ranks #1 nationally, while public universities like University of Punjab and NUST also feature in the top 5.

Q: Which Pakistani city has the most universities?
A: Lahore hosts multiple top institutions including LUMS, University of Punjab and University of Central Punjab, making it a major education hub.

Q: Do Pakistani universities offer programs in English?
A: Yes, most undergraduate and postgraduate programs at major universities are taught in English.

Q: What are the oldest universities in Pakistan?
A: University of the Punjab (1882) and Institute of Business Administration (1955) are among the oldest functioning institutions.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Pakistani universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Pakistan
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Pakistani post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Pakistan
  Search for Pakistani higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Pakistani Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Pakistani town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Pakistan
  Discover Pakistani public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Pakistan
  Find out about Pakistani private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Pakistan
  Explore Pakistani not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Pakistan
  Look for Pakistani for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Pakistani Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Pakistan have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Pakistani Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Pakistan that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Pakistani Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Pakistan are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Pakistani Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Pakistan with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.