The 2025 edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings has been unveiled, highlighting universities worldwide that excel in advancing sustainability and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s assessment evaluated 2,526 institutions across 130 countries and territories, with Pakistan making a notable impact by having 120 universities included in the rankings.
A standout achievement among Pakistani universities is the University of Lahore, which has secured a position within the top 150 universities globally, demonstrating the country’s rising commitment to sustainable development through higher education.
Pakistani Universities in the Rankings: Highlights
Top Tier (101-200): University of Lahore
Next Tier (201-300): Allama Iqbal Open University, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology
Mid Tier (301-400): Ilma University, Superior University
Strong Presence (401-600): Includes prominent institutions like COMSATS University Islamabad, Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, Lahore College for Women University, and National University of Medical Sciences.
Emerging Institutions (601-800): Such as Iqra University, Rawalpindi Medical University, and The Women’s University Multan.
Developing Universities (801-1000): Air University, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute.
Expanding Reach (1001-1500): Institutions like Quaid-i-Azam University, University of Karachi, and Lahore University of Management Sciences.
New Entrants (1501+): Numerous universities including Abasyn University, Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah University.
Understanding the Rankings
Unlike conventional academic rankings, the THE Impact Rankings focus on universities’ tangible contributions toward achieving SDGs such as climate action, gender equality, quality education, and clean energy.
The scores from various SDG categories are combined to create a comprehensive impact score, reflecting a university’s real-world influence.
Global Trends
A noticeable pattern this year is the rapid advancement of universities in East and Southeast Asia, which are substantially improving their contributions to sustainable development and social impact through innovative research and community engagement.
