Pakistan’s Global Academic Standing Improves as Two Universities Break into World’s Top 400

QAU ranks 381st and NUST 384th in QS World University Rankings 2027 as Pakistan’s presence in global higher education rankings continues to expand

Syed Naveed Hussain

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s higher education sector has registered a significant international breakthrough, with two leading universities securing places among the world’s top 400 institutions and the country’s overall representation in global university rankings continuing to grow.

Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, has secured 381st position, while the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, has been ranked 384th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2027, placing both institutions among the world’s 500 leading universities. Overall, 12 Pakistani universities have made it to the global top 1,000, reflecting the country’s growing presence in the international higher education landscape.

Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Professor Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, shared these achievements while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training.

He informed the committee that the number of Pakistani universities featured in the QS global rankings had increased from seven in 2020 to 18 in 2027. Similarly, Pakistan’s representation in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings had risen from 14 institutions to 56 during the same period.

Pakistan has also made progress in Asian university rankings, with 83 of its institutions featuring in the QS Asian rankings and 48 in the Times Higher Education rankings, the HEC chairman said.

Describing the improved international standing as encouraging, Dr Akhtar stressed that the ultimate objective was not merely to secure better rankings but to ensure higher academic standards, strengthen research, improve institutional performance and enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani universities.

He, however, identified inadequate financial resources, limited international recognition and weak linkages between universities and industry as major challenges confronting the higher education sector.

Outlining the ongoing reform agenda, The Chairman also briefed the committee on HEC's broader initiatives for the uplift of the higher education sector. He said around 20 task forces had been constituted to examine priority areas and submit their recommendations for improvement. He also underlined HEC policy formation and review initiatives relating to undergraduate education, transnational education, liberal arts education, dual, double and joint degree programmes, computing education, curriculum transformation and the integration of Artificial Intelligence into academic programmes.

He also highlighted HEC's scholarship programmes and international partnerships, including the Pak-US Knowledge Corridor, Fulbright and DAAD scholarships, Quaid-i-Azam Memorial Scholarships, and the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme. He also referred to the Allama Iqbal Scholarships for international students, academic partnerships with Chinese institutions and technology companies, and the HEC Global Scholar Network Portal, initiated to connect Pakistani scholars abroad with academics and researchers in Pakistan.

Chairman HEC also outlined initiatives for faculty and leadership development, including free-of-cost Artificial Intelligence training for faculty members and administrative staff of public and private sector institutions. He highlighted the launch of online and paperless degree attestation system and the HEC’s partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IBCC in this connection.

The Chairman reiterated that HEC's objective is to strengthen the quality, relevance and global competitiveness of higher education in Pakistan through coordinated reforms, institutional capacity building and sustained engagement with universities.

Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Mr. Nadeem Mahboob, representatives of the Federal Directorate of Education, Inter Boards Coordination Commission, National Institute of Psychology at Quaid-i-Azam University, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority and other relevant organisations also attended the meeting.