Global education ranking

Earlier last year, 18 Pakistani universities secured places in the 2026 edition of QS World University Rankings released by a UK-based higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds. The same firm has now released its World University Rankings by Subject for 2026, gracing 35 universities across Pakistan with a spot in its list. Pakistan's appearance is a sign that the higher education sector in the country is maturing and earning recognition on a competitive global stage. But a closer look at the data asks us to be a bit more sceptical.

The universities leading Pakistan's charge are overwhelmingly concentrated in Punjab. NUST, Quaid-e-Azam University, LUMS, COMSATS, UET Lahore and the University of Punjab sit at the top amongst all Pakistani universities. These institutions benefit from decades of investment, proximity to federal funding corridors, established alumni networks and qualified faculty. Their success is genuine and deserves recognition. But it is also a reflection of a structural imbalance that Pakistan has long refused to confront seriously.

According to experts, the QS system not only rewards research output but rather global visibility. Therefore, the wider gap is not tethered to capability but rather opportunities for international exposure, high-impact publishing and consistent presence in global academic networks. Pakistan does produce researchers but not enough to make it to global discussions, and this distinction matters enormously. A strong research-oriented environment, one that prizes creativity, genuine inquiry and independent thinking, is concentrated within elite institutions while the rest are largely left to fend for themselves.

HEC bears significant responsibility here. Its mandate is national, but its attention has historically skewed towards already-established centres of excellence. It must actively redirect research grants, faculty development programmes and international collaboration initiatives towards neglected regions. Pakistan's ranking is promising, but much work still needs to be done.