University of Lahore Ranked Best Pakistani University in THE Ranking

LAHORE: A total of 52 Pakistani universities have been included in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026. University of Lahore emerged as the country’s highest-ranked institution (71st globally), becoming the first Pakistani university to enter the world’s top 100 in the sustainability-focused rankings.

The latest ratings, released by Times Higher Education on June 24, assessed 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories on their contributions towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Pakistan was among the nine countries with more than 50 universities represented in the overall rankings.

According to the rankings, the University of Lahore (UoL) is the only Pakistani institution to feature among the world’s top 100 universities while Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, and Superior University were placed in the 301-400 band.

The 401-600 band includes Iqra University, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, NED University of Engineering and Technology, University of Education Lahore, University of Faisalabad, University of Kotli (AJK), University of Poonch, Rawalakot, University of Wah and Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh.

Formerly known as the THE Impact Rankings, the Sustainability Impact Ratings are the only global rankings that measure universities’ performance against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The methodology evaluates institutions across four broad areas including research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. To qualify for the overall rankings, a university must submit data for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and at least three other SDGs. The overall score combines the SDG 17 score with the institution’s three highest scores from the remaining goals, while the final ranking is based on a two-year average to improve consistency.

Globally, the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom is number one overall and Griffith University in Australia is second overall. Australia, Malaysia and Canada each have two top 10 universities in overall ranking. New countries in the rankings are Mali, Nicaragua, Niger and Tajikistan. The Philippines has the most universities in the ranking, 160.

- Author: Imran Gabol, DAWN