ISLAMABAD: Fifty-two Pakistani universities have secured places in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, marking a significant moment for the country’s higher education sector.
According to Times Higher Education, the 2026 edition evaluated 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories across 17 Sustainable Development Goal tables and one overall ranking.
The rankings are important because they do not assess universities only on traditional academic output.
The UK-based organization Times Higher Education, in its ratings, measures how institutions contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.
This makes the ranking a broader measure of a university’s social, environmental and economic impact.
The University of Lahore emerged as Pakistan’s highest-ranked institution, securing 71st position globally and becoming the country’s only university in the top 100 higher education institutions.
Other leading Pakistani institutions include Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan, MNS University of Agriculture Multan and Superior University, all placed in the 301-400 band.
Several institutions were ranked in the 401-600 band, including 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, University of Poonch, University of Wah and Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan’s representation also included Air University, Bahria University, Dow University of Health Sciences, GIK Institute, Rawalpindi Medical University, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of Central Punjab, University of Gujrat, UVAS Lahore and Ziauddin University in the 601–800 band.
Quaid-i-Azam University, Sukkur IBA University, Fatima Jinnah Medical University and University of Management and Technology were among those placed in the 801–1000 band.
For Pakistan, the inclusion of 52 universities shows growing institutional focus on sustainability, public impact, community engagement and internationally visible research.
It also strengthens the global profile of Pakistani higher education at a time when universities are increasingly expected to contribute to climate action, social inclusion, public health, quality education and responsible resource use.
The recognition may also help Pakistani institutions attract partnerships, improve international credibility and align campus policies with global development priorities.
Times Higher Education (THE)
Times Higher Education is an education publication and global rankings organization that assesses universities around the world on academic performance, research strength, international outlook, industry links and social impact.
Its rankings are widely followed by students, universities, policymakers and education experts because they provide an international benchmark for comparing institutions.
Apart from its flagship World University Rankings, THE also publishes Impact Rankings, which measure universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, climate action, health, equality, innovation and sustainable communities.
Other universities
According to the THE website, globally, the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom secured the number one position in the overall ranking, followed by Griffith University in Australia in second place.
Australia, Malaysia and Canada each had two universities among the global top 10, reflecting their strong institutional focus on sustainability and social impact.
The 2026 rankings also expanded geographically, with Mali, Nicaragua, Niger and Tajikistan joining for the first time.
The Philippines recorded the highest representation, with 160 universities included in the ranking.
