EDUCATION is the foundation of national progress; without it, development is a dream. The recently released Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026 have once again exposed the deterio- rating state of higher education in Pakistan. Shockingly, there is not a single Pakistani university that could make it to the top 350 institutions worldwide, a fact that should deeply concern every policy- maker and educationist in the country.

Out of 218 universities in Pakistan, the top-ranked institution, the Quaid-i-Azam University, sits at 354, followed by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) at 371, the University of Punjab at 542, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) at 555, and the University of Karachi at 1,001.

These numbers reflect a serious gap between Pakistan and the rest of the academic world. For a country with such a large population of young people, this, indeed, is an educational emergency.

This situation raises tough questions for the Higher Education Commission (HEC), education boards, and relevant ministries. Why are our universities unable to meet global standards? Where is the investment in research, faculty training, innovation and international collaboration?

Despite repeated promises of reforms, our universities continue to struggle with outdated curricula, weak academic infrastructure, and lack of performance-based systems. Why?

If we do not address these core issues now, Pakistan’s future competitiveness, economy, and global standing will continue to decline further. The govern- ment and all its relevant bodies should wake up and take the actions that are needed. Lip service is no longer enough.

Kashif Shayari
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025