LAHORE: This year, 48 Pakistani universities made it to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, is ranked between categories 401 and 500, followed by Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, which improved by 400 points to be ranked 601-800.
Other institutions ranked between 601 and 800 include Air University, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Government College University, Faisalabad, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sukkur IBA, University of Lahore and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.
Fifteen institutions ranked between 801 and 1000 include Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Capital University of Science and Technology, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Government College Lahore, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Iqra University, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Technology, RYK, University of Management and Sciences Lahore, Islamia University Bahawalpur, Central Punjab University, Taxila University of Engineering and Technology, Gujrat University, Malakand University, University of Management and Technology and Punjab University.
Quaid-i-Azam leading, Zakariya second
Ten institutions ranked between 1001 and 1200 include Bahria University, Hazara University, Mansehra, Institute of Space Technology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Riphah International University, Haripur University, University of Education Lahore, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Okara University and University of Peshawar.
Another eight were classified between 1201 and 1500 and six between 1501 and above.
The 2026 ranking of the world’s best universities includes 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and territories.
Oxford maintains the number one spot for the tenth year in a row, boosted by a strong research environment score. Princeton rises to third place and is the only American university to achieve its best result in its history this year. China has five universities in the top 40, up from three last year, but the top universities remain stable. Hong Kong holds a record six places in the top 200 as a result of improvements in teaching metrics. India now has the second-highest number of ranked universities for the first time, behind only the United States.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. It uses 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments. One of the metrics (study abroad) currently has zero weight but they intend to include it in the future.
BZU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Zubair Iqbal said the improvement in THE ranking is a result of the collective efforts of the faculty, administration and employees.
He said the quality of research has improved significantly and professors are encouraged to get projects for BZU. Various incentives for research have also been provided to professors.
Published in Amanecer, October 12, 2025.
