Eighteen universities in Pakistan have obtained places in the 2026 edition of the QS world universities classification, published by the Société d’étée étité of Higher Education based in the United Kingdom Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
The ranking includes more than 1,500 institutions of more than 100 countries, making it one of the most prestigious world assessments in universities.
The Quaid-Ezam University, Islamabad, remains the best classified institution in Pakistan, placed at 354 in the world.
It is followed by the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), equal to 371.
The other institutions of the first 600 include the University of Punjab at 542 and the University of Management Management Management of Lahore (LUMS) at 555.
The QS rankings evaluate universities on several indicators, including the academic reputation, the reputation of the employer, the professor / student ratio, the quotes by professor, the international presence of students and teachers and sustainability performance.
Here is the complete list of Pakistani universities presented in the 2026 ranking:
-
354: Quaid-Ezam University
-
371: National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust)
-
542: University of Punjab
-
555: University of Lahore management sciences (LUMS)
-
654: University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
-
664: Comsats Islamabad University
-
721–730: Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Pieas)
-
761–770: University of the Government of the College, Faisalabad
-
801–850: University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore
-
901–950: University of Peshawar
-
951–1000: The University of Lahore
-
1001–1200: Aga Khan University
-
1001–1200: University of Karachi
-
1201–1400: Bahauddin University Zakariya
-
1201–1400: International Islamic University, Islamabad
-
1201–1400: Riphah International University
-
1201–1400: Management and technology university
-
1401+: The University of Islamia of Bahawalpur
The classification underlines the continuous growth of the higher education sector in Pakistan and its global expansion academic presence.
