Pakistan’s higher education sector has achieved a significant milestone in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2025, with 47 universities securing places among the continent’s top research and academic institutions. The rankings reflect the country’s rising academic profile and research output on the regional stage.
Quaid-i-Azam University Leads the Way
At the forefront of this achievement is Quaid-i-Azam University, which secured the 137th position, making it Pakistan’s highest-ranked institution this year. It is closely followed by the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) at 145th and COMSATS University Islamabad at 187th.
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Strong Regional Representation
A total of 47 Pakistani universities earned ranked positions in the 2025 list, with many others grouped in performance bands ranging from 201–250 to 601+. The rankings were determined based on 18 performance indicators, covering areas such as teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
In addition to those ranked, 47 more Pakistani universities participated as “reporters”—institutions that submitted data for evaluation but did not meet the threshold for formal ranking.
Notable Rankings of Pakistani Universities
Top-Ranked Institutions:
- =137: Quaid-i-Azam University
- 145: National University of Sciences and Technology
- 187: COMSATS University Islamabad
201–250 Band:
- Government College University Faisalabad
- Sukkur IBA University
- University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
251–300 Band:
- Air University
- Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
- Capital University of Science and Technology
- University of Malakand
- University of the Punjab
301–400 Band:
- Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI)
- Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
- International Islamic University, Islamabad
- University of Lahore
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
- Others
401–600 Band:
- Bahria University
- Institute of Space Technology
- University of Central Punjab
- University of Sargodha
- Mehran University of Engineering and Technology
- University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- University of Education, Lahore
- Others
601+ Band:
- University of Karachi
- NED University of Engineering and Technology
- Lahore College for Women University
- BUITEMS, Quetta
- National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
- Dow University of Health Sciences
- Others
A Growing Global Presence
This year’s rankings evaluated 853 universities from 35 countries, positioning Pakistani universities as emerging leaders in higher education in Asia. The consistent improvement in performance reflects ongoing efforts in academic research, institutional development, and international collaborations
