Universities and Colleges in Pakistan

The Higher Education Commission directs the development of Pakistani’s higher education system and aims to advance Pakistani universities into global centres of education and research. In June 2012, the Higher Education Commission recognised 137 degree-awarding institutions, 74 in the public sector. Allama Iqbal Open University was established in 1974, the first open university in Asia. Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, Rawalpindi, opened in 1998 and was Pakistan’s first university exclusively for women. Other leading higher education institutions include Quaid-i-Azam University, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), National College of Arts, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and The Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad.  Less than 3% of Pakistanis of relevant age are enrolled in higher education.The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in tertiary education is 0.83:1 (2008). Literacy among people aged 15–24 is 71% (2009). There is an extensive literacy programme.