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Seven universities in Punjab are in the top group.
BY Mahnoor | 01-06-2026
LAHORE: A report from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has questioned the research and innovation skills of Punjab’s main universities. Even though many old government universities receive significant public funding and have many teachers and facilities, they still failed to get top rankings.
The study looked at 95 universities nationwide using the ORIC framework. It checked how well they manage their operations, work with industries, file patents, and help new businesses start.
Only seven universities in Punjab reached the top ‘W’ category. Many other important schools stayed in lower groups, showing a growing gap between what universities claim and the actual impact of their research.
In Punjab, only The University of Lahore and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad reached the top tier. The University of Punjab and Lahore College for Women University were in the Y category, and the University of Sargodha was in the X category. This shows they struggled with innovation, business planning, and working with industries.
Punjab is home to some of Pakistan’s oldest and biggest universities, which are the most important part of the country’s higher education.
Experts say that even though some provincial universities have good facilities and many students, they are still falling behind in important areas of modern learning.
Education experts say these results show a problem in public universities: they focus too much on traditional teaching and not enough on new research. Analysts note that universities are now judged globally by more than just papers and degrees. Instead, they are measured by their patents, technology sharing, helping new businesses start, working with industries, and boosting the economy.
A professor from a state university in Lahore said, “Most universities still use old management styles. They have research offices, but these offices lack freedom, money, and clear plans. Universities keep publishing papers, but they struggle to turn research into real-world products or businesses.”
Another professor said Punjab’s universities are performing poorly because they are running out of money. He explained that constant budget problems and financial struggles have hurt their research work.
“When universities struggle to pay for salaries, pensions, bills, and building costs, research becomes less important. Labs need new equipment, innovation needs money, and working with other countries requires steady funding. Many schools are currently facing serious money problems,” he said.
The review showed that there is not enough money for all the research being done. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, universities sent in 9,987 research plans, which is much higher than before. However, because money is limited and competition is high, only a few of these plans were approved.
Education experts say that unfair funding is frustrating researchers and new teachers who cannot get money for science and tech projects. Many professors believe this stops new ideas and forces universities to focus on easy tasks rather than important research.
The report also pointed out management problems with ORIC offices. HEC data shows that only 68% of universities have permanent heads for these offices, with many using temporary staff instead. Experts say that changing leaders makes it hard to keep progress steady and hurts long-term plans for research and business growth.
Critics say many universities in Punjab are not connected to businesses. Although they hold many academic events, they struggle to turn their research into useful products, patents, or profitable business solutions.
An education researcher said that universities in rich countries help drive industry and technology, while many Pakistani universities mostly just focus on giving out degrees.
“The way universities work worldwide has changed. Now, research is tied to making money, creating new ideas, and starting businesses. Sadly, many universities here still stick to old-fashioned ways of teaching and studying,” he said.
These rankings also affect money. Higher-ranked universities get more funding for research, which helps them improve their facilities and management. Experts warn that lower-ranked schools may struggle more with money and academic quality.
