LAHORE — October 12, 2025: A total of 48 universities from Pakistan have made it to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, reflecting the growing global presence of Pakistani higher education institutions.
Key Highlights
- Quaid-i-Azam University tops Pakistani institutions, ranked 401–500 globally
- Bahauddin Zakariya University jumps 400 points to 601–800 band
- 48 institutions included across multiple ranking categories
- Oxford retains global top spot for the 10th consecutive year
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, leads the national list in the 401–500 band. Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, made a notable leap to the 601–800 bracket. Other universities in this range include Air University, COMSATS University Islamabad, Government College University Faisalabad, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sukkur IBA, University of Lahore, and the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.
🚨BREAKING: 48 Pakistani universities make it to the 2026 Times Higher Education World Rankings, with Quaid-i-Azam University leading the list. pic.twitter.com/V2PTcz73bI
— The Daily CPEC (@TheDailyCPEC) October 13, 2025
Fifteen universities secured rankings between 801–1000, including Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, International Islamic University Islamabad, and the University of Punjab. Ten more were placed between 1001 and 1200, while eight institutions were in the 1201–1500 category.
The 2026 rankings feature 2,191 universities from 115 countries. Oxford University retains the top position, while Princeton achieves its best-ever joint third place. India now has the second-highest number of ranked universities, surpassing China.
BZU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zubair Iqbal credited faculty and administration efforts for the ranking improvement, citing enhanced research quality and increased project participation.
You May Like To Read: Details of IMF Programmes Reviewed as Pakistan’s External Debt Reaches USD 92.2 Billion
