University of the Punjab


The University of the Punjab is a public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Founded in 1882, its international influence has made it one of the most prestigious universities in South Asia; being the oldest and largest public sector one in the wider Punjab region, as well as in Pakistan.
The first meeting of the University's Senate was on 14 October 1882 at Simla, which marked the formal establishment of the university. Punjab University was the fourth university to be established by the British colonial authorities in the Indian subcontinent; the first three universities were established in other parts of British India.
There are 45,678 students. The university has 19 faculties of which there are 138 academic departments, research centres, and institutes. Punjab University has ranked first among large-sized multiple faculty universities by the HEC in 2012. There are also two Nobel Laureates among the university's alumni and former staff. Additionally, the university is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the United Kingdom. The university has campuses in Gujranwala, Jhelum, Khanaspur, and Pothohar Campus.
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History

The University of Punjab was given its initial impetus in 1854 by Wood's despatch.
The Institute of Administrative Sciences was created in 1962. Many major institutions that were previously affiliated to the university have become independent universities, such as Government College University, Lahore and Medical and Engineering Colleges.

Pre Partition

On 1 January 1864, Government College, Lahore, was established. The Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Donald Friell McLeod appointed Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner as principal of Government College Lahore. On 12 March 1868, a resolution was adopted at a public meeting in Lahore to establish University of the Punjab at Lahore. On 8 December 1869, Punjab University College was established in Lahore and on 14 October 1882, University of the Punjab was established.
Prof. Arthur Compton, who discovered Compton effect used to be an appointed lecturer in the university. He received the Nobel Prize in 1927.

Founding Colleges

After the resolution of 12 March, in 1869 Punjab University College was established, consisting of Punjab University Law College and Oriental College, which are still the oldest departments and founding constituent colleges of Punjab University. Government College University was also made a part of University of the Punjab which was later separated and became an independent university in 2002.

Post Partition

The fate of the university after the partition of India in 1947, was deliberated at the Punjab Partition Committee, with representatives from East Punjab advocating for a division of the university. The senate of the university voted to split the university, and the matter reached the Partition Council at the centre, but a decision could not be made. The government in East Punjab was compelled to establish a new university, which eventually became the Panjab University in Chandigarh.

Campus

The university is divided into campuses across Punjab with one summer campus located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
  • Allama Iqbal Campus: also known as the old campus, located in the centre of Lahore, it is named after the South Asian thinker and mystic poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The campus houses the Senate, the Syndicate, the Selection Board and the Advanced Studies & Research Board are generally held there.
  • Quaid-i-Azam Campus: also known as the new campus, is named after the founder of Pakistan and is located to the south of the Allama Iqbal Campus. Spread over an area of. The campus is the centre of academic and administrative activities of the university. A canal divides the academic blocks from the student lodgings.
  • Gujranwala Campus: the faculties of Commerce, Economics and Management Sciences, Banking & Finance, Law, English, and Information Technology all conduct teaching in the campus. In addition to degree programs, campus provides short courses, facilitated by e-Rozgar program of Punjab Information Technology Board.
  • Khanspur Campus: the summer campus is located at a height of about in the Himalayan range near Ayubia. The campus, in addition to providing research facilities, is used as a recreational center for the faculty and the students.
  • Jhelum Campus: having opened in 2012, it offers studies relating to the faculties of Commerce, Economics and Management Sciences, Law and Computer Science.
  • Pothohar Campus: located in Gujar Khan, it began classes in 2023 in a rented building while the permanent campus is under construction on about 800 kanals of land. It currently offers programs in Information Technology and Law.

Academics

Rankings

University of the Punjab is ranked 542 Internationally in the QS World University Rankings for the year 2025 and 2nd nationally. It is also ranked #18 in Asian universities by QS Rankings.

Faculties

There are 19 faculties with 10 constituent colleges, 73 departments, centers, and institutes. It has 1006 full-time and 300 part-time faculty members involved in teaching/research and over 6,000 non-teaching/supporting staff with 45,678 on campus students :

Constituent colleges

Institutes

  • Institute of Business Administration
  • Institute of Administrative Services
  • Institute of Business and Information Technology
  • Institute of Information Management
  • Institute of Botany
  • Institute of Zoology
  • Institute of Geography
  • Institute of Special Education
  • Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Institute of Applied Psychology
  • Institute of Social and Cultural Studies
  • Institute of Geology
  • Institute of Electrical Electronics and Computer Engineering
  • Institute of Polymer and Textile Engineering
  • Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology
  • Institute of Metallurgy and Material Engineering
  • Institute of English
  • Institute of Punjabi and Cultural Studies
  • Institute of Urdu Language and Literature

Facilities

Library

The library is one of the largest libraries among the universities of Pakistan. The library has more than 500,000 books, magazines and periodicals, in nine national and international languages, in print and on CD, DVD, microfilm, microfiche, video and audio cassette, and manuscript.
Punjab University Library has a two-storey building with a total area of 102,000 square feet. There are reading halls on the ground and first floors with a seating capacity of 2500 readers. The library has an internet lab. In the library there is a computerised "MLIMs" catalogue for searching material.

Notable alumni

Nobel Laureate

Educationist

Politicians

Raja Anwar and

Scientists

Lawyers

Judges

Architects

Literature

Notable faculty

Vice Chancellors