Pakistani universities have once again failed to secure a place among the world’s top 350 universities in the latest QS World University Rankings 2027, with the country’s two highest-ranked institutions both slipping further down the global list.
Despite improvements by some universities, Pakistan remains absent from the top 350 for another year.
QAU and NUST Drop in Global Rankings
According to the latest rankings:
🎓 Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) fell from 354th place to 381st globally.
🎓 National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) dropped from 371st to 384th place.
The declines mean Pakistan has no university among the world’s top 350 institutions in the latest edition of the rankings.
18 Pakistani Universities Included in QS Rankings
Although no university entered the top 350, Pakistan still had:
🌍 18 universities included among 1,504 ranked institutions worldwide.
The rankings showed mixed performances, with some universities improving significantly while others recorded declines.
Universities That Improved Their Rankings
Several Pakistani universities climbed in the global rankings:
| University | Previous Rank | New Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) | 721 | 560 |
| COMSATS University Islamabad | 664 | 639 |
| University of Agriculture Faisalabad | 654 | 629 |
These improvements reflect gains in various ranking indicators and global performance metrics.
Major Universities Recorded Declines
Some of Pakistan’s leading institutions moved down in the rankings:
| University | Previous Rank | New Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab University | 542 | 588 |
| Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) | 555 | 608 |
The declines highlight the challenges Pakistani universities continue to face in improving their global competitiveness.
Limited Representation From Provinces
Among institutions from Sindh:
🎓 The University of Karachi was the only university from the province to secure a place in the rankings.
Meanwhile:
❌ No university from Balochistan was included in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Pakistan Still Faces Global Higher Education Challenges
The latest rankings indicate that while some institutions have shown progress, Pakistani universities continue to face challenges in achieving higher positions internationally.
Education experts say improvements in areas such as:
- Research output
- International collaborations
- Faculty development
- Academic reputation
- Research funding
will be essential if Pakistani universities are to improve their standing and compete more effectively in future global university rankings.
