LONDON: Pakistan has achieved a major milestone in global education as 99 of its universities secured places in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, marking the country’s best-ever performance in the prestigious list.
The Times Higher Education 2026 rankings include 2,191 universities from 115 countries, with Pakistan standing out for its remarkable rise in higher education representation and quality.
A total of 48 Pakistani universities earned official global ranks, while 51 institutions were granted “reputer” status acknowledging their growing research output and academic potential.
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, led the national list by ranking in the 401–500 category worldwide. COMSATS University Islamabad, Air University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), and Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) followed in the 601–800 range.
Read More: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign historic MoU on anti-corruption cooperation
Meanwhile, NUST and the University of Management and Technology (UMT) Lahore) made it to the 1001–1200 global band, showcasing Pakistan’s strengthening presence in international academia.
Education experts have hailed the results as a historic success for Pakistan, highlighting improvements in teaching quality, research excellence, and international collaboration.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, regarded as one of the most credible indicators of academic performance globally, have once again placed Pakistan among the fastest-rising countries in higher education.
