Just one Pakistani university included among world’s top 500

Five Indian varsities make it to the coveted list

The Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad

IN its ranking of world’s universities for 2025, renowned international organisation the Times Higher Education (THE) has placed just one Pakistani university among the top 500 varsities. In contrast, five Indian universities have made it to the coveted list, an analysis has shown. Name of no Bangladeshi university has been included in that list.

Globally, the University of Oxford has held onto the first position for a record ninth consecutive year. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been ranked second, followed by Harvard University.

Under the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, the strengths and weaknesses of over 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories were analysed. After detailed scrutiny, the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, was placed in the 401-500 band of institutions, thus earning the right to call themselves the best university in Pakistan.   

Eight Pakistani universities were placed in the 601-800 band, one more than last year. The University of Malakand has moved up to this band from the 801-1,000 category, swapping places with the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, which has been relegated.

The Sukkur IBA University has also entered the 601-800 band. Only seven Pakistani universities have improved their rankings, while 10 have been relegated.

The Pakistani varsities that have been put in the 601-800 category are the Air University, Capital University of Science and Technology, COMSATS University, Government College University Faisalabad, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sukkur IBA University, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, and the Malakand University.