Pakistani universities have once again failed to secure a spot among the world’s top 350 institutions in the latest QS World University Rankings 2027, with the country’s two highest-ranked universities slipping further down the global list.
Despite the setback, Pakistan managed to place 18 universities among 1,504 institutions ranked worldwide.
QAU and NUST Drop in Global Rankings
According to the latest rankings:
🎓 Quaid-i-Azam University dropped from 354th place to 381st globally.
🎓 National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) declined from 371st to 384th place.
The latest results mean Pakistan remains without a university in the world’s top 350 institutions.
Several Universities Improved Their Rankings
While the top-ranked institutions declined, several Pakistani universities recorded significant improvements.
| 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 |
The improvements indicate progress by some institutions in global performance indicators.
Major Universities Recorded Declines
Some of Pakistan’s leading universities also slipped in the rankings:
| University | Previous Rank | New Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab University | 542 | 588 |
| Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) | 555 | 608 |
The mixed performance highlights the continuing challenges faced by Pakistani higher education institutions in improving their global competitiveness.
Limited Provincial Representation
Among Sindh’s institutions:
🎓 University of Karachi was the only university from the province included in the rankings.
Meanwhile:
❌ No university from Balochistan secured a place in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Challenges Remain for Pakistan’s Higher Education Sector
The latest rankings suggest that while some universities are making progress, Pakistan still faces significant challenges in areas such as:
- Research output and citations
- International collaborations
- Global academic reputation
- Faculty development
- Research funding and innovation
Education experts say sustained investment in higher education, research excellence, and international partnerships will be essential if Pakistani universities are to improve their positions and eventually break into the world’s top-ranked institutions.
