University of Karachi

The University of Karachi, based in Pakistan, was established through parliament as a federal university back in 1951. When Pakistan became a sovereign state in 1947, opportunities for higher education and research were negligible, and the university was created in response to the impending need.

It initially began teaching with just two faculties – the arts and science – and just 50 students. The university, spread over 1,200 acres of land, is now vast with over 50 departments and 20 research centres and is now the biggest university in the country. 

It is particularly well-known for teaching and research within science and technology, medical research, and social science fields.

Situated 12 km away from the city centre of Karachi, the university is in a perfect place for students who want to explore its unique blend of Middle Eastern, Central Asian, South Asian and Western influences.

The  university library is one of the largest in the country with a collection of over 360,000 books, and over 110,000 copies of national and foreign journals and periodicals. There is also a section where students can enjoy copies of rare manuscripts from the British museum, the India Office Library and the Bodleian and Cambridge University libraries.

Through the Bureau of Composition, Compilation and Translation (BCC&T), the university publishes books, texts, periodicals, and other academic materials in-house.

Notable alumni include Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, a noted Pakistani scholar and Urdu poet, scientist and educator, Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani nuclear physicist and a metallurgical engineer, and Waheed Murad, a former Pakistani film actor, producer and scriptwriter.