No Pakistani University Makes Global Top 400 in Latest Times Higher Education Rankings

ISLAMABAD   No Pakistani university has secured a place among the world’s top 400 institutions in the latest Times Higher Education global university rankings, highlighting continuing concerns over the country’s research performance and higher education standards. The University of Karachi was placed at 1,601, while the University of the Punjab was ranked at 1,801. Quaid-i-Azam University emerged as Pakistan’s highest-ranked institution, falling within the 551–600 category, while the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) was placed in the 601–650 group. Overall, 56 Pakistani universities were included in the rankings, but none managed to enter the top 400. The University of Oxford retained the top position globally for the 11th time, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the United States. In Asia, China’s Tsinghua University ranked 11th globally, while Peking University secured 13th place. Seventeen Chinese universities featured among the world’s top 200, while five Japanese institutions also made the list. The absence of any Pakistani university from the top 400 has renewed concerns about the country’s research output, academic standards, international collaboration and institutional capacity. The rankings underscore the need for greater investment in research, innovation, faculty development and academic infrastructure.