QS Rankings Show Regional Gaps in Pakistan’s Higher Education

Pakistan’s latest showing in the QS World University Rankings 2027 has renewed attention on the country’s higher education divide, with a small group of institutions maintaining global visibility while many regions remain underrepresented.

According to the latest rankings, 18 Pakistani universities have been included in the global list. Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, is Pakistan’s highest-ranked institution, placed at joint 381st globally. The National University of Sciences and Technology also remains among the country’s leading names in the ranking table.

The results show that Pakistan continues to have a presence in international higher education rankings, but the distribution of top-performing institutions points to an uneven academic landscape. Universities based in Islamabad, Punjab and major urban centres continue to dominate national visibility, while institutions from several other regions struggle to achieve similar global recognition.

The rankings are closely watched because they measure universities across several indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research impact, international outlook, employment outcomes and sustainability.

 

Pakistani Universities in QS World University Rankings 2027

 

For Pakistan, the latest results underline a familiar challenge: access to higher education has expanded over the years, but quality, research capacity and institutional resources remain uneven. Universities in better-funded urban centres often have stronger research networks, larger faculty pools, better laboratories and more established industry connections.

Education experts have long argued that global rankings should not be treated as the only measure of university quality. However, they do provide a useful snapshot of how institutions are performing in areas that matter for international visibility, student mobility and research competitiveness.

The regional gap is especially important for students outside major cities. When universities in smaller provinces or less-developed districts lack funding, qualified faculty, research grants and modern facilities, students face fewer opportunities to compete at the national and international level.

The rankings also raise questions for policymakers. Pakistan’s higher education sector needs wider investment in faculty development, digital infrastructure, research funding, laboratories and international partnerships. Without a more balanced approach, the same cluster of institutions is likely to continue dominating global ranking tables.

A stronger regional higher education system would not only improve university rankings but also support local economies. Universities can play a key role in producing skilled graduates, supporting innovation and linking research with industry needs.

Pakistan’s inclusion of 18 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 shows progress in global visibility. But the broader message is clear: higher education development remains uneven, and closing regional gaps will be essential if more universities across the country are to compete internationally.

 

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