Key points
- Pakistan celebrates a historic academic milestone with 47 universities ranked in the Times Higher Education Asia Rankings 2025
- QAU leads the national chart at rank 137
- With this achievement, Pakistan ranks sixth in Asia in university representation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s higher education sector has reached a major milestone in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2025, with a record 47 universities earning their place among the continent’s leading research institutions.
This unprecedented recognition marks Pakistan’s strongest showing to date and reflects the nation’s accelerating rise in global academia.
The Asia Rankings 2025 evaluated over 850 universities across nearly 36 Asian nations, judging institutions on 18 rigorous performance indicators — including teaching quality, research excellence, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
Among the Pakistani institutions, Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) stood out as the nation’s top performer, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse of research and academic distinction.
“This success is a collective triumph,” said Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Vice Chancellor of QAU, in a conversation with WE News English. “It’s a celebration of the relentless dedication of QAU’s brilliant faculty, hardworking staff, talented students, and our proud alumni. Despite facing financial and budgetary constraints, QAU continues to shine as a beacon of innovation and excellence, proudly representing Pakistan on the world stage,” he concluded.
The rankings not only spotlight QAU’s strong showing but also reveal a broader wave of academic progress across Pakistan. Numerous universities delivered remarkable performances, expanding the country’s presence in Asia’s fiercely competitive higher education arena.
Adding to the national effort, 47 additional Pakistani universities participated in the rankings as “reporters” — institutions that submitted data for evaluation but did not yet meet the criteria for full ranking. Their participation, however, signals a growing ambition within Pakistan’s academic sector and a collective stride toward global academic integration.
This year’s results stand as a powerful testament to Pakistan’s growing research footprint and the transformative strides being made in its higher education sector — a clear message that the nation is no longer on the sidelines of academic excellence, but actively shaping its future.
Pakistan Asia University Rankings 2025
Rank University Name
137 Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU)
145 National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
187 COMSATS University Islamabad
201–250 Government College University Faisalabad
201–250 Sukkur IBA University
201–250 University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
251–300 Air University
251–300 Capital University of Science and Technology
251–300 Lahore University of Management Sciences
251–300 University of Malakand
251–300 University of the Punjab
301–350 Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
301–350 Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology
301–350 International Islamic University, Islamabad
301–350 PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi
301–350 The Islamia University of Bahawalpur
301–350 University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
301–350 University of Lahore
301–350 University of Management and Technology
301–350 University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
351–400 Bahauddin Zakariya University
351–400 Government College University Lahore
351–400 Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology
351–400 University of Gujrat
351–400 University of Peshawar
401–500 Bahria University
401–500 Hazara University Mansehra
401–500 Institute of Space Technology
401–500 Islamia College Peshawar
401–500 National Textile University
401–500 National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences
401–500 Riphah International University
401–500 University of Central Punjab
401–500 University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore
401–500 University of Sargodha
501–600 Kohat University of Science and Technology
501–600 Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro
501–600 The University of Agriculture, Peshawar
501–600 University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
501–600 University of Education, Lahore
601+ Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS)
601+ Dow University of Health Sciences
601+ Lahore College for Women University (LCWU)
601+ Mirpur University of Science and Technology
601+ National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
601+ NED University of Engineering and Technology
601+ University of Karachi
Pakistan has emerged as the sixth most-represented country in Asia, and now shares the 14th global position with Taiwan — a proud milestone that signals the country’s growing academic influence on the world stage.
Education experts have welcomed the achievement as a powerful reflection of Pakistan’s strategic commitment to fostering high-quality research and education. The rising visibility of Pakistani universities in these prestigious rankings is more than a badge of honor — it’s a hopeful signal for students, scholars, and innovators, and a strong push forward for the country’s evolving knowledge economy.
