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Best universities in Pakistan 2024

Discover the best universities in Pakistan determined by data collected by Times Higher Education

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October 11 2023
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Top 8 universities in Pakistan 2024

Scroll down for the full list of best universities in Pakistan

Pakistan Ranking 2024 World University Ranking 2023 World University Ranking 2024 University City/Town
1 401–500 401–500 Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
=2 601–800 601–800 Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Mardan
=2 601–800 NR Air University Islamabad
=2 601–800 NR Capital University of Science and Technology Islamabad
=2 601–800 601–800 COMSATS University Islamabad Islamabad
=2 601–800 601–800 University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila Taxila
=2 601–800 501–600 Government College University Faisalabad Faisalabad
=2 601–800 801–1000 National University of Sciences and Technology Islamabad

Pakistan is a fascinating country with beautiful scenery, a rich culture and a complex history.

The country stretches from the Arabian Sea in the south to the towering Himalayas in the north and encompasses the Indus River valley, a cradle of human civilisation and home to some of the world’s most ancient cultures. 

The country today is an ethnic and linguistic patchwork (more than 70 languages are spoken in Pakistan), and the people mirror the diversity of the geography.

Pakistan has more than 200 public and private higher education institutions, some of which date back to when the country was first established. After the creation of Pakistan as an independent country, the government built several universities to provide vital skills to the newly formed republic, especially in the sciences and engineering. That legacy continues to this day, with many universities retaining a focus on science, medicine and technology.

Many Pakistani universities actively encourage international students to enrol, and large numbers choose to study in Pakistan. Students come from as far afield as Saudi Arabia, Africa and China, as well as some from America and Europe. Higher education is delivered in English at all public universities in Pakistan, which, combined with the relatively low cost of living, makes studying here an attractive option. These are the best universities in Pakistan based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

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Top 8 universities in Pakistan 2024

=2. National University of Sciences and Technology

Established in 1991, Pakistan's NUST is a leading research university, with a particular focus in the STEM fields. 

The main campus is in Islamabad, with smaller campuses in Rawalpindi, Risalpur, and Karachi. NUST's Islamabad campus has extensive sports facilities.

The university has developed partnerships with a range of international universities including Stanford University, Caltech, University of Manchester and University of Melbourne among others. 

=2. Government College University Faisalabad

Government College University Faisalabad can trace its origins back to a primary school in Karkhana Bazar. It evolved into a university in 2002.

The university which comprises of seven faculties. Its campus spans 37 acres on Jhang Road, with an additional 200-acre campus under development. 

=2. University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila

The University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila was initially a campus of UET Lahore in Sahiwal in 1975 and then relocated to Taxila in 1978. It gained independent university status in 1993. 

In 2005, a second campus was established in Chakwal. The university achieved independent university status in 2020. Plans are underway for a new site in Pind Dadam Khan in Jhelum district.

The university has faculties covering electronics and electrical engineering, mechanical and aeronautical engineering, telecommunications and information engineering, civil and environmental engineering, industrial engineering, and basic science and humanities.

=2. COMSATS University Islamabad

COMSATS University Islamabad, established in 1998, is an institution dedicated to sustainable development through science and technology.

With eight campuses, including its main one in Islamabad, it offers a wide array of programmes including IT , computer sciences, business administration, earth sciences and bioinformatics. 

Islamabad, a city known for its cultural growth and green spaces, is home to the central campus. Further locations are spread across Pakistan, from Lahore to Abbottabad.

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=2. Capital University of Science and Technology

Established in 1998 as the Islamabad Campus of Mohammed Ali Jinnah University, the Capital University of Science and Technology gained independent university status in 2015.

Located in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, it offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in five faculties: engineering, computing, health and life sciences, pharmacy, and management and social sciences.

Admissions tests are required for most programmes. The university has 14 student clubs and organisations, covering sports, arts, media, and engineering disciplines.

=2. Air University

Established in 2002 by the Pakistan Air Force, Air University, located in Islamabad, Pakistan, continues to be overseen by Air Forces' Education Command.

The university encompasses five faculties, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes, including aerospace sciences and strategic studies, avionics and aeronautics, basic and applied sciences, engineering, and social sciences. The Air University School of Management provides courses in areas ranging from accounting and finance to tourism and hospitality management.

Engineering students benefit from hands-on laboratory work, applying theoretical concepts in practical experiments and contributing to local research.

Beyond academics, the university offers various clubs and societies, including music, Islamic studies, and literature.

=2. Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan

Founded in 2009 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan is a public university, named after Pashtun leader, Abdul Wali Khan.

The university has nine campuses, each with a unique focus and facilities, including laboratories, a library, computer labs, student hostels, and a sports complex.

Its six faculties include agriculture, arts and humanities, business and economics, chemical and life sciences, physical and numerical sciences and social sciences.

1. Quaid-i-Azam University

Quaid-i-Azam University – previously named Islamabad University – was established in 1967 and is based in Islamabad.

It has four faculties and nine other teaching and research institutes, centres and schools, and the main areas of research involve biological sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and medicine.

The campus is located at the foot of the Margalla Hills, a range at the base of the Himalayas. It is a well-known spot for birdwatching, hiking and climbing. A canal runs through the campus.

The university has close links with several universities in Europe, South Asia and the United States.

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Top universities in Pakistan 2024

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results. 

Pakistan Ranking 2024 World University Ranking 2023 World University Ranking 2024 University City/Town
1 401–500 401–500 Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
=2 601–800 601–800 Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Mardan
=2 601–800 NR Air University Islamabad
=2 601–800 NR Capital University of Science and Technology Islamabad
=2 601–800 601–800 COMSATS University Islamabad Islamabad
=2 601–800 601–800 University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila Taxila
=2 601–800 501–600 Government College University Faisalabad Faisalabad
=2 601–800 801–1000 National University of Sciences and Technology Islamabad
=9 801–1000 601–800 Bahria University Islamabad
=9 801–1000 601–800 Hazara University Mansehra Mansehra
=9 801–1000 601–800 International Islamic University, Islamabad Islamabad
=9 801–1000 NR Islamia College Peshawar Peshawar
=9 801–1000 801–1000 University of Lahore Lahore
=9 801–1000 601–800 Lahore University of Management Sciences Lahore
=9 801–1000 601–800 University of Malakand Malakand
=9 801–1000 501–600 University of Management and Technology Lahore
=9 801–1000 801–1000 University of the Punjab Lahore
=9 801–1000 NR Institute of Space Technology Islamabad
=9 801–1000 1001–1200 University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore Lahore
=20 1001–1200 1001–1200 Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan
=20 1001–1200 801–1000 University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar Peshawar
=20 1001–1200 1001–1200 University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore Lahore
=20 1001–1200 1001–1200 University of Gujrat Gujrat
=20 1001–1200 801–1000 The Islamia University of Bahawalpur Bahawalpur
=20 1001–1200 NR Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat
=20 1001–1200 NR Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan Jamshoro
=20 1001–1200 NR Mirpur University of Science and Technology Mirpur
=20 1001–1200 801–1000 University of Peshawar Peshawar
=20 1001–1200 1001–1200 PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Rawalpindi
=20 1001–1200 601–800 Riphah International University Islamabad
=20 1001–1200 1001–1200 University of Sargodha Sargodha
=32 1201–1500 NR The University of Agriculture, Peshawar Peshawar
=32 1201–1500 601–800 Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi
=32 1201–1500 NR University of Education, Lahore Lahore
=32 1201–1500 1201–1500 Government College University Lahore Lahore
=36 1501+ 1501+ University of Karachi Karachi
=36 1501+ 1201–1500 Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Lahore
=36 1501+ NR National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi
=36 1501+ NR NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi

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