Pakistan’s higher education sector has achieved a major milestone, with 48 universities making it to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, reflecting the country’s growing academic and research strength.
At the top of the list, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, stands out in the 401–500 category, maintaining its position as Pakistan’s leading higher education institution. Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, showed remarkable improvement, climbing nearly 400 ranking points to secure a place in the 601–800 band.
Other universities in the 601–800 range include Air University, COMSATS University Islamabad, Government College University Faisalabad, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sukkur IBA, University of Lahore, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.
In the 801–1000 band, 15 Pakistani universities were featured, including LUMS, Government College University Lahore, International Islamic University Islamabad, Iqra University, and the University of the Punjab.
Ten others, such as Bahria University, Institute of Space Technology, and University of Peshawar, were listed in the 1001–1200 range.
The rankings reflect the continuous improvement in teaching, research, and international outlook of Pakistan’s universities. According to BZU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zubair Iqbal, the achievement is the result of collective efforts by the faculty, administration, and employees, emphasizing enhanced research quality and faculty incentives.
Globally, the 2026 THE rankings include 2,191 universities from 115 countries and territories. Oxford University retained the No. 1 position for the tenth consecutive year, followed by Harvard and Princeton, while China and India both made record gains in representation.
myedupoint.com
The inclusion of 48 Pakistani universities in THE’s 2026 rankings highlights Pakistan’s growing focus on research driven education, innovation, and global collaboration. With stronger faculty development and continued investment in higher education, Pakistan’s universities are expected to rise even further in future editions.
📅 Published on My Edu Point October 2025
