Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: QS World University Rankings 2026 is out now, with prestigious institutions of Engineering, Science and Management taking top positions. Several Pakistani Universities also make it to the list, with Quaid-i-Azam University taking top slot.
Pakistan’s growing presence in global higher education remains visible in latest ranking as Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) emerged as nation’s top-ranking institution, followed by NUST and Punjab University.
QS World Rankings 2026 features over 1,500 universities from more than 100 countries, reflect shifting trends in global academia, with notable advancements by institutions in Asia and Europe, even as the United States continues to dominate the top positions.
Six Pakistani universities secured places among top 700 universities globally. Quaid‑i‑Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad leads the national chart, ranked in the ~350s, maintaining its position as Pakistan’s highest-ranked university.
National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) holds a rank of approximately 371, reaffirming its status as the country’s premier institution for engineering and applied sciences. University of the Punjab, based in Lahore, ranks around 542, showing a consistent performance in research and regional academic influence. Meanwhile, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), ranked near 555, stands out for its academic and employer reputation, establishing itself as a top-tier institution in business and social sciences.
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, placed around 654, which is internationally recognized for its contributions to agricultural education and innovation. Rounding out the list is COMSATS University Islamabad, ranked near 664, which continues to shine in IT and engineering, having achieved the top national spot in Computer Sciences
With over 30 universities from Pakistan represented in this year’s QS rankings, education experts see this as a positive trajectory for the country. The consistent performance of institutions like QAU, NUST, and COMSATS indicates not only national leadership but also growing recognition on the world stage. Quaid-i-Azam University remains the only Pakistani university to be consistently ranked No. 1 by this prestigious ranking agency over a decade, said a press release on Thursday.
QAU has also secured the 51st position worldwide in the category of Citations per Faculty, highlighting the outstanding quality and impact of its research output.
