• Nust, QAU foremost among public sector varsities
• Lums secures top billing among business schools
• AKU maintains its position as leading medical school

LAHORE: As many as 35 Pakistani universities feature in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, released a couple of days ago.

At least 31 public-sector universities and four private institutions from Pakistan have been included in the list, underscoring the dominant role of state-run institutes in driving research output and maintaining global academic visibility.

Among the public sector institutions, the National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) emerged as one of the leading performers in the realm of engineering & technology, where it is ranked in the 201-250 band, while its computer science ranking falls within the 201-300 range.

Similarly, Quaid-i-Azam University maintained a strong position in the natural sciences, securing a place in the 201-250 band, and also appeared within the 250-400 range for subjects such as physics and environmental sciences.

The University of the Punjab recorded multiple entries across disciplines, including business, social sciences and agriculture, with rankings largely falling between 201 and 400 globally.

The University of Engineering and Technology Lahore also featured prominently in engineering disciplines, mostly within the 251-400 bracket, highlighting its continued strength in technical education.

Other public universities making notable appearances include Comsats University Islamabad, ranked in Computer Science and IT (201-250) and Engineering fields (251-300); University of Agriculture Faisalabad, which performed strongly in Agriculture & Forestry within the top 200 globally; and University of Karachi, which appeared in Chemistry and Biological Sciences within the 301-400 band.

Institutions such as Government College University Lahore, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of Peshawar, University of Sindh, University of Balochistan, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore also secured positions across various subjects, generally within the 301-500 global ranking bands.

In the private sector, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) stood out in business and management studies, achieving a position in the 101-150 range, making it one of Pakistan’s highest-ranked institutions in any subject.

The Institute of Business Administration Karachi (IBA) followed with rankings in business and economics within the 151-250 band.

The Aga Khan University maintained its reputation in medicine, ranking within the 201-250 bracket globally, while also appearing in the life sciences categories. Another private institution, Habib University, made a limited but notable appearance in selected social science disciplines, typically within the 400+ range.

Overall, Pakistani universities recorded approximately 180 subject entries. Agriculture and forestry remained a standout field, with at least one Pakistani university named among the top 200 worldwide, while business education showed competitive positioning closer to the top 100-200 range globally.

The majority of Pakistani institutions remain concentrated in the 201-400 ranking bands, indicating moderate global competitiveness.

The QS subject rankings are based on key indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, and international research networks, and are widely regarded as one of the most influential benchmarks for assessing university performance worldwide.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026