No Pakistani university made it to the top 350 in the recent QS World Universities Rankings 2027. The highest-ranked Pakistani university, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), secured the 381st spot globally. Faisal Bari, a senior research fellow, highlighted the low education budget allocation as a key factor behind this ranking.
The absence of Pakistani universities in the top rankings reflects the country’s limited spending on education. Nations like India, Chile, and the UAE, with higher per capita income and education expenditure, have universities in the top 200. The lack of adequate funding for research and faculty salaries poses a significant challenge for Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Faisal Bari questioned the feasibility of aiming for top-ranked universities amidst sector-wide challenges. He emphasized the need to align incentives for better performance across the sector and support public and private universities for enhanced outcomes. Despite the sector’s growth in Pakistan, concerns persist regarding the quality of graduates entering the job market.
