Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad has once again reaffirmed its status as Pakistan’s leading higher education institution by securing the number one position in Pakistan and 381 place globally in the QS World University Rankings, a higher education analytic firm – Quacquarelli Symonds – by Nunzio Quacquarelli in 1990.
In a remarkable achievement, the Quaid-i-Azam University has also been ranked among the top 60 universities worldwide for citations per faculty, earning an outstanding score of 97.2 out of 100. This distinction reflects the quality, relevance, and global influence of the university’s research contributions. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal extended his heartfelt congratulations to the faculty members, students, staff, alumni and ranking committee of the Quaid-i-Azam University.
He expressed gratitude for their dedication and hard work, which have played a key role in achieving this prestigious recognition and further strengthening QAU’s reputation as a center of excellence in the higher education and research. This achievement underscores the University’s continued commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and meaningful contributions to knowledge and innovation at both national and international levels.
OUTSTANDING RESEARCHERS, SCIENTISTS
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) organized a ceremony at the Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) of the University of the Punjab in Lahore to honor outstanding researchers and scientists for their exceptional contributions to research and innovation. Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat joined the event as the chief guest. The ceremony recognized researchers featured in the Global Top 2% Scientists Ranking 2025 published by the Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier.
The event also celebrated the awardees of the National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) Call 2025-26 while acknowledging the scientists who had been conferred upon gold medals/fellows by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS). Recognition certificates were presented to the distinguished scholars in acknowledgment of their academic excellence and research achievements. In his address, Rana Sikandar Hayat appreciated HEC’s efforts in promoting a culture of research and innovation across Pakistan. He highlighted the Punjab government’s commitment to strengthening higher education, noting significant increases in funding for universities, research initiatives, and student support programs.
He emphasized that while governments can provide resources and policy support, it was responsibility of universities and researchers to produce quality education, impactful research, and skilled human capital for national development. Speaking on the occasion, HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar welcomed the distinguished guests, vice chancellors, researchers, and scientists. He described the higher education institutions as hubs of knowledge creation and dissemination. Reflecting on the evolution of research landscape, he noted that the inclusion of around 1,200 researchers in the Global Top 2% Scientists Ranking is a remarkable achievement that has enhanced the country’s international academic standing.
He urged researchers to transform their scholarly work into practical applications, entrepreneurship, and social innovation to address national challenges and contribute to economic development. He reaffirmed HEC’s commitment to supporting universities through research funding, international collaborations, and capacity-building initiatives. HEC Punjab Chairman Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan congratulated the awardees and commended their dedication to advancing research. He stressed importance of increased investment in research and development and expressed hope for enhanced allocations for higher education and research in the upcoming provincial budget.
Earlier, HEC’s Advisor Dr Muhammad Ali Nasir welcomed the guests and provided an overview of the Global Top 2% Scientists Ranking and the NRPU program. He shared that more than 1,200 researchers and scientists were included in the 2025 Global Top 2% list, with over 500 researchers belonging to Punjab. He informed the audience that under the NRPU Call 2025-26, a total of 6,926 researchers applied for grants, and following a rigorous evaluation process, 142 research projects were approved with funding exceeding Rs. 1.267 billion. The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to strengthening Pakistan’s research ecosystem, fostering innovation, and promoting excellence in higher education and scientific research.
