QAU ranked best varsity followed by PIEAS, Aga Khan

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Thursday announced the ranking of Pakistani universities, both public and private sector, in which Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) was ranked number 1 university among all the varsities of the country followed by Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and The Aga Khan University, Karachi. The universities were given ranking on the basis of quality teaching and research. Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Javaid R Laghari made this announcement at a press conference held here at the commission’s secretariat. Sharing further details of the top ten universities of the country, the HEC chairman said University of Agriculture Faisalabad ranked Pakistan’s 4th best university followed by University of the Punjab, Lahore, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The HEC chairman said there were 132 universities in the public and private sector throughout the country and 116 were examined for ranking. He said universities that were established after December 2008 as well as distance education universities were excluded from the ranking lists.
“Ranking is a quality indicator and this information will help shed light on key indicators of higher education institutions in Pakistan,” he said.
Dr Javaid Laghari said it would also provide a transparent mechanism to universities on how they compared against their peers and would inculcate a spirit of competition to raise the standard of education. To a query, the HEC chairman said, “Ranking criteria for universities include student intake as well as graduates produced at BS, MS and PhD levels, number of qualified faculty members, student-teacher ratio, quality of research produced and published in journals of international repute, physical and technological infrastructure, international collaborations, resource generation and sports facilities,” he added.
Category-wise Rankings of Universities: Agriculture/Veterinary: In agriculture sector, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, was ranked the best university of Pakistan followed by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.
Art and Design: In this sector, National College of Arts, Lahore, was declared as the best university followed by Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, Karachi.
Computer Sciences and IT: COMSAT Institute of Information Tech Islamabad National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad, was declared as the best institution in computer sciences and IT field in the country, followed by Qurtaba University DI Khan Balochistan and University of Information Technology and Management Sciences, Quetta.
Engineering: In this sector, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Science, Islamabad, was ranked as top institutions followed by National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, and Ghulam Institute of Engineering and Technology, Swabi, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila and Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad.
Business: In this sector, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) remained on the top followed by Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Iqra University, Karachi, and National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore.
Medical: In this sector, Aga Khan University was ranked as the best university of Pakistan followed by University of Health Sciences, Lahore.