LAHORE: A total of 52 Pakistani universities have been included in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 with the University of Lahore emerging as the country’s highest-ranked institution (71st globally), becoming the first Pakistani university to enter the world’s top 100 in the sustainability-focused rankings.
The latest ratings, released by Times Higher Education on June 24, assessed 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories on their contributions towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Pakistan was among the nine countries with more than 50 universities represented in the overall rankings.
According to the rankings, the University of Lahore (UoL) is the only Pakistani institution to feature among the world’s top 100 universities while Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, and Superior University were placed in the 301-400 band.
The 401-600 band includes Iqra University, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, NED University of Engineering and Technology, University of Education Lahore, University of Faisalabad, University of Kotli (AJK), University of Poonch, Rawalakot, University of Wah and Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh.
The universities placed in the 601-800 band are Air University, Bahria University, Dow University of Health Sciences, Foundation University Islamabad, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Government College Women University Sialkot, Rawalpindi Medical University, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, The Women University Multan, University of Central Punjab, University of Gujrat, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, and Ziauddin University.
The 801-1000 category comprises Bahauddin Zakariya University, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Minhaj University Lahore, Quaid-i-Azam University, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Sukkur IBA University and University of Management and Technology.
The 1001-1500 band includes Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Green International University Lahore, Institute of Business Management, International Islamic University Islamabad, Iqra National University, Lahore Garrison University, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, SZABIST University, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and University of Karachi.
The universities placed in the 1501+ category are Rashid Latif Khan University, Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritages, and The Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage Sukkur.
Of the 52 Pakistani institutions included in the rankings, 33 are public-sector universities while 19 belong to the private sector.
Formerly known as the THE Impact Rankings, the Sustainability Impact Ratings are the only global rankings that measure universities’ performance against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The methodology evaluates institutions across four broad areas including research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. To qualify for the overall rankings, a university must submit data for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and at least three other SDGs. The overall score combines the SDG 17 score with the institution’s three highest scores from the remaining goals, while the final ranking is based on a two-year average to improve consistency.
Globally, the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom is number one overall and Griffith University in Australia is second overall. Australia, Malaysia and Canada each have two top 10 universities in overall ranking. New countries in the rankings are Mali, Nicaragua, Niger and Tajikistan. The Philippines has the most universities in the ranking, 160.
Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026