QS Rankings 2026 Highlight QAU and NUST Among Top Pakistani Universities

Islamabad – The highly respected QS World University Rankings 2026 have been announced, covering over 1,500 universities from around the globe. This year’s rankings highlight significant progress among universities in Asia and Europe while U.S. institutions continue to dominate the top tier.

Pakistan’s universities have also made it to the global list, with Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) taking the top spot at the national level. It is followed by National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and Punjab University.

Performance of Pakistani Universities

The ranking of 2026 has included more than 30 universities of Pakistan, which is a positive indication of the development of the country’s higher education sector and recognition internationally. Below are the top-performing Pakistani institutions:

*Rank*	*University*	*Overall Score*
*354*	*Quaid-i-Azam University*	*41.3*
*371*	*National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)*	*40.3*
*542*	*University of the Punjab*	*30.3*
*555*	*Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)*	*29.7*
*654*	*University of Agriculture, Faisalabad*	*26.6*
*664*	*COMSATS University Islamabad*	*26.4*
*721–730*	*Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences (PIEAS)*	*n/a*
*761–770*	*Government College University, Faisalabad*	*n/a*
*801–850*	*University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore*	*n/a*
*901–950*	*University of Peshawar*	*n/a*
*951–1000*	*The University of Lahore*	*n/a*
*1001–1200*	*Aga Khan University*	*n/a*
*1001–1200*	*University of Karachi*	*n/a*
*1201–1400*	*Bahauddin Zakariya University*	*n/a*
*1201–1400*	*International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI)*	*n/a*
*1201–1400*	*Riphah International University*	*n/a*
*1201–1400*	*University of Management and Technology (UMT)*	*n/a*
*1401+*	*The Islamia University of Bahawalpur*	*n/a*

Top Institutions and Global Impact

Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has also achieved the highest national status with ~ 354 rank this year. This university in Islamabad has performed permanently in the field of research, teaching and global impact.

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NUST ~ 371 is proving its superiority in the field of engineering and technology with a rank. The University of the Punjab has maintained its academic and research standards with the position of ~ 542, while LUMS has gained international reputation in the field of business and social sciences with the rankings of ~ 555.

Emerging Strength in Specialized Fields

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad received praise for its contributions to agricultural research and education, earning a rank of ~654. COMSATS University Islamabad, with a rank around ~664, stood out in computer sciences and was named the top institution nationally in this field.

The strong presence of Pakistani universities in QS World University Rankings 2026 is a testament to the country’s education quality and internationalization. The continued performance of universities like Quaid -e -Azam University, NUST, PU and COMSATS shows that Pakistan is becoming stable in the global educational scenario.

This development introduces Pakistan as an emerging center of higher education not only for local students but also for international students.