Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad ( ur, ; commonly referred to as QAU), founded as University of Islamabad, is a ranked 1

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...

research university A research university or a research-intensive university is a university that is committed to research as a central part of its mission. They are the most important sites at which knowledge production occurs, along with "intergenerational kno ...

Islamabad Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital T ...

, Pakistan. Founded as the University of Islamabad in 1967, it was initially dedicated to the study of

postgraduate education Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...

but expanded and established as Qaid e Azam university in 1973 to an

interdisciplinary Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several other fields like sociology, anthropology, psychology, ec ...

university offering undergraduate and postgraduate education.

Overview

The university has, as of 2015, grown into the largest varsity in

with a total enrollment exceeding 13,000 students. The university is on a 1700

acres The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, of a square mile, 4,840 square ya ...

(or 6.9 km²) campus on the foothills of the

Margalla The Margalla Hills () are a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park on the northern edge of Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, just south of Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills. The M ...

. Divided into four faculties and nine affiliated research institutes, QAU is among Pakistan's largest and highest ranked public universities. In 2020, it is ranked between 510 and 520 overall whilst in Physics, Mathematics and agriculture departments ranked 225th, 225th and 125th respectively worldwide, in emerging economics it's ranked below 100 which is probably a prestige, and also ranked 111th in Asia by the ''

QS World University Rankings ''QS World University Rankings'' is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The QS system comprises three parts: the global overall ranking, the subject rankings (which name the world's top universities for the ...

'' while its regional publications ranked QAU among 120 in Asia in 2013. The ''

Times Higher Education World University Rankings The ''Times Higher Education World University Rankings'' (often referred to as the THE Rankings) is an annual publication of university rankings by the ''Times Higher Education'' (THE) magazine. The publisher had collaborated with Quacquarelli ...

'' ranked QAU between 401 and 500 globally and top 75 in Asia in its 2020 lists. The university has intellectual interaction with international institutes, including the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

University of Tokyo , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

and the

ICTP The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) is an international research institute for physical and mathematical sciences that operates under a tripartite agreement between the Italian Government, United Nations Education ...

. It is one of the most popular universities in the country and counts several public figures and intellectuals among its current and former faculty, researchers, or alumni since its establishment. They include Maleeha Lodhi,

Nasim Zehra Nasim Zehra (Urdu:نسیم زہرہ) is a Pakistani journalist and writer who hosts a primetime current affairs talkshow on ''Channel 24''. Education and career Zehra studied business at the Quaid-e-Azam University, Pakistan and later studied ...

Shamshad Akhtar Shamshad Akhtar is a Pakistani development economist, United Nations diplomat and banker who also served as the caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan. Prior to that, she served as the 14th Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the first w ...

, Suhail Zubairy,

Abdul Rashid Ghazi Abdul Rashid Ghazi ( ur, عبد الرشید غازی; – 10 July 2007) was a Pakistani Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalist who served as the vice-chancellor of Jamia Faridia, Faridia University. Prior to his radicalisation, he serv ...

, Farzana Aslam, Tasneem Zehra and

Salma Zahid Salma Zahid is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding of Scarborough Centre during the 2015 Canadian federal election. She succeeded the Conservative R ...

. The university is currently led by Vice Chancellor Muhammad Ali.

History

The University of Islamabad was established on 22 July 1967 by the

Government of Pakistan The Government of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=hakúmat-e pákistán) abbreviated as GoP, is a federal government established by the Constitution of Pakistan as a constituted governing authority of the Administrative units of Pakistan, four provin ...

. It was renamed as Quaid-i-Azam University in honor of

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...

, founder of Pakistan in 1976 - which was the year of his birth centenary. However, the spelling of the university's name were kept different i.e. "i" was used instead of "e" for

Ezāfe Ezāfe ( fa, اضافه, lit=extra), also romanized as ''ezâfe'', ''izafet'', ''izafe'', ''izafat'', ''izāfa'', ''ezafe'', and ''izofa'' ( tg, изофа, izofa), is a grammatical particle found in some Iranian languages, as well as Persian-i ...

that links the two words in Jinnah's title Quaid-e-Azam. The university offered teaching and research programs for PhD and MPhil degrees in the beginning and later offered Masters programs. The university now offers undergraduate programs as well. Quaid-i-Azam University has four different faculties and 38 departments, institutes, schools and centers.

Faculties and departments

Quaid-i-Azam University consists of four faculties. The following departments, institutes/schools work under these faculties:

Faculty of Natural Sciences

* Department of

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

* Department of

Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...

(Ranked 201st Worldwide) * Department of

Earth Sciences Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four sphere ...

* Department of

Electronics The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour and effects of electrons using electronic devices. Electronics uses active devices to control electron flow by amplification ...

* Institute of

Information Technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology system (I ...

(Ranked 201st Worldwide) * Department of

Mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...

(Ranked 225th Worldwide) * Department of

Physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

(Ranked 225th Worldwide) * Department of

Statistics Statistics (from German language, German: ''wikt:Statistik#German, Statistik'', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of ...

Faculty of Social Sciences

* School of Law * Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences (QASMS) * Department of

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavi ...

* Department of Sociology * Department of

Linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...

* Department of Defence & Strategic Studies * School of

Economics Economics () is the social science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and intera ...

* Department of

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

* School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR) * Taxila institute of Asian civilizations * Department of

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

Department of Education

Faculty of Biological Sciences

* National Center for

Bioinformatics Bioinformatics () is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data, in particular when the data sets are large and complex. As an interdisciplinary field of science, bioinformatics combi ...

* Department of

Animal Sciences Animal science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of humankind". It can also be described as the production and management of farm animals. Historically, the degree was called animal husbandry and the ...

* Department of

Biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...

* Department of

Microbiology Microbiology () is the scientific study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, prot ...

* Department of

Plant Sciences Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

(Ranked 125th Worldwide) * Department of

Environmental Sciences Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geo ...

* QAU School of

Medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...

* Department of

Pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links heal ...

* Department of

Biotechnology Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used b ...

Faculty of Medical Science

* Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital Rawalpindi * Army Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute * Health Services Academy, Islamabad * Federal Medical & Dental College * Quaid e Azam Postgraduate Medical College, PIMS

Institutes

* National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR) Center for Excellence * Saulat Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research * Center of Excellence in Gender Studies * National Institute of Psychology * National Institute of

Pakistan Studies Pakistan studies curriculum (Urdu: ') is the name of a curriculum of academic research and study that encompasses the culture, demographics, geography, history, International Relations and politics of Pakistan. The subject is widely research ...

* Area Study Centre for Africa, North and South America ; Chairs * Quaid-i-Azam Chair * Benzair Bhutto Chair * Rumi Chair

Central library

The university has central library (CL), named as DR. Raziuddin Siddiqi memorial library situated at the centre of the university campus and having total covered area is approximately 102,500 sq. ft. On 6 February 1999, the Central Library (CL) was renamed the Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi Mermorial (DRSM) Library in honour of Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi's illustrious and meritorious achievements as the founding Vice Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University. University offers DRSM Library services for faculty and students of the university.

Rankings and reputation

Quaid-i-Azam University was ranked 363 in the world by the ''

'' of 2022-2023 and 91st in Asia.url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2022 , date= 10 August 2022 In the 2010 edition of QS's Asian University Rankings for Natural Sciences, QAU ranked 46th. According to the 2015 ranking of the

Higher Education Commission of Pakistan The Higher Education Commission (colloquially known as HEC) is a statutory body formed by the Government of Pakistan which was established in 2002 under the Chairmanship of Atta-ur-Rahman. Its main functions are funding, overseeing, regulating ...

, Quaid-i-Azam University is ranked third in the general category.

Notable alumni and faculty

Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Aasim Sajjad Akhtar is a teacher, left wing politician and columnist based in Pakistan. Akhtar is associate professor of political economy at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He served as the president of the Awami Workers Party's Pun ...

# Abrar ul Haq # Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal #

Hamza Ali Abbasi Hamza Ali Abbasi (Urdu/ pa, ; born 23 June 1984) is a Pakistani film and television actor and director. He is known for his roles as Afzal in the drama serial '' Pyarey Afzal'', and as Salahuddin in the drama serial '' Mann Mayal''. In 2 ...

Ahmed Hassan Dani Ahmad Hassan Dani (Urdu: احمد حسن دانی) FRAS, SI, HI (20 June 1920 – 26 January 2009) was a Pakistani archaeologist, historian, and linguist. He was among the foremost authorities on Central Asian and South Asian archaeology ...

Akbar S. Ahmed Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed, is a Pakistani-American academic, author, poet, playwright, filmmaker and former diplomat. He currently is a professor of International Relations and holds the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at the American Universi ...

# Alamgir Hashmi # Ansar Pervaiz #

Arshad Sharif Arshad Sharif ( ur, ; 22 February 1973 – 23 October 2022) was a Pakistani journalist, writer, and television news anchor. He specialised in investigative journalism and covered many political events in the country for national and internati ...

Asghar Qadir Asghar Qadir ( ur, اصغر قادر born 23 July 1946) ''HI'', ''SI'', ''FPAS'', is a Pakistani mathematician and a prominent cosmologist, specialised in mathematical physics and physical cosmology. He is considered one of the top mathemati ...

Fayyazuddin Fayyazuddin, also spelled as Fayyaz Uddin ( ur, فياض الدين born 10 November 1930), is a Pakistani theoretical physicist, emeritus professor, specialising in theoretical physics and mathematical physics at Quaid-e-Azam University campus ...

Ismat Beg Ismat Beg, FPAS, FIMA, ( ur, عصمت بیگ; born January 1951) is a Pakistani mathematician and researcher. Beg is a senior Full Professor at the Lahore School of Economics, Higher Education Commission Distinguished National Professorhttp:// ...

Irshad Hussain Irshad Hussain ( ur, ) is a Pakistani Scientist in the field of chemistry and among the few pioneers to initiate nanomaterials research in Pakistan. He is among the founding faculty members of SBA School of Science & Engineering and played a k ...

Hareem Farooq Hareem Farooq ( ur, ; born 26 May 1992) is a Pakistani theatre, film and television actress and a film producer, known for her work in the serial ''Diyar-e-Dil'' and ''Pawnay 14 August''. She co-produced ''Janaan'' followed by her 2018 film '' ...

# Ilhan Niaz #

Khadija Mushtaq Khadija Mushtaq is a Pakistani academic administrator and educator. She is the chancellor of Roots Ivy International University and chief executive officer of the Roots School System. Education Mushtaq completed a Master of Economics degree ...

Maliha Lodhi Maleeha Lodhi ( ur, ; born 15 November 1952) is a Pakistani diplomat, political scientist, and a former Pakistan's Representative to the United Nations. She was the first woman to hold the position. Previously, she served as Pakistan's envo ...

Marriyum Aurangzeb Marriyum Aurangzeb ( ur, ) is a Pakistani politician from Pakistan Muslim League (N) who is a member of the National Assembly. She is current federal minister of Information & Broadcasting in Shehbaz Sharif ministry. Aurangzeb served as th ...

Mazhar Mahmood Qurashi Mazhar Mahmood Qurashi ( Urdu: مظهر محمود قريشى; b. 8 October 1925 – 21 November 2011; SI), best known as M. M. Qureshi was a Pakistani physicist and an Islamic scholar who was educated in Lahore and Manchester. He earned prestig ...

Muhammad Sharif Mian Muhammad Sharif ( Punjabi, ur, ;18 November 1919 – 19 October 2004) was a Pakistani businessman who is known as the co-founder of Ittefaq Group and founder of Sharif Group. Two of his three sons, Nawaz and Shehbaz became Prime Mini ...

Muhammad Suhail Zubairy Muhammad Suhail Zubairy, HI, SI, FPAS (born 19 October 1952), is a University Distinguished Professor as of 2014 in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Texas A&M University and is the inaugural holder of the Munnerlyn-Heep Chair ...

Muhammad Imran Qadir Muhammad Imran Qadir ( ur, ; born September 3, 1978), also known as M. I. Qadir, is a Pakistani pharmaceutical scientist. Life and education Qadir received his early education from Shujabad, Multan. He received his B.Pharm degree from Bah ...

Nargis Sethi Nargis Sethi ( ur, ) is a retired Pakistani civil service officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service who served in BPS-22 grade as the Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Other heavy ...

Nisar Ali Khan Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan ( ur, ; born 31 July 1954) is a Pakistani politician who served as the Interior Minister from 2013 to 2017. He is currently an independent member-of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab - elected to represent PP-10 (Rawa ...

# Pervaiz Iqbal CheemaRenowned academic Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema passes away
The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 16 February 2019, Retrieved 13 February 2020 #

Pervez Hoodbhoy Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy (Urdu: ;;born 11 July 1950) is a Pakistani nuclear physicist and activist who serves as a professor at the Forman Christian College and previously taught physics at the Quaid-e-Azam University. Hoodbhoy is also a promine ...

Qaiser Mushtaq Qaiser Mushtaq (born 28 February 1954), ( D.Phil.(Oxon), ASA, KIA), is a Pakistani mathematician and academic who has made numerous contributions in the field of Group theory and Semigroup. He has been vice-chancellor of The Islamia Universit ...

Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry Qamar-Uz-Zaman Chaudhry is a Pakistani climate scientist. He is a researcher in the fields of climate change, meteorology, atmospheric sciences, hydrology and seismology and has written over 50 articles in the fields of meteorology, atmospher ...

Rana Mubashir Rana Mubashir is a Pakistani television news journalist, talk show host and analyst who is known for his Current affairs (news format), current affairs show 'Aaj Rana Mubashir Kay Sath'.

Zafarullah Khan Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan ( ur, ‎; 6 February 1893 – 1 September 1985) was a Pakistani jurist and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan. After serving as foreign minister he continued his international ...

# Raziuddin Siddiqui #

Shireen Mazari Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari ( ur, ) is a Pakistani politician who served the Federal Minister for Human Rights, from 20 August 2018 to 10 April 2022. She is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of Chief Election Commi ...

# Tahir Amin # Tasneem M. Shah # Zia Mian # Anis Ahmed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Qadir_in_2019.jpg

, Pakistani pharmaceutical scientist File:Shamshad Akhtar - World Economic Forum on the Middle East 2010.jpg,

, served as the vice president of the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...

. File:NewestPic.jpg,

mathematician, known for his work on

Multiple-criteria decision analysis Multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) or multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is a sub-discipline of operations research that explicitly evaluates multiple conflicting criteria in decision making (both in daily life and in settings ...

, and

fixed point (mathematics) A fixed point (sometimes shortened to fixpoint, also known as an invariant point) is a value that does not change under a given transformation. Specifically, in mathematics, a fixed point of a function is an element that is mapped to itself by th ...

File:Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan-US talks 2001.jpg, Dr.

, leading Pakistani diplomat. File:Dr a qadir.JPG,

, Pakistani mathematician and a prominent cosmologist File:US Navy 090720-N-8053S-068 French Rear Adm. Alain Hinden, left, shakes hands with Pakistan Navy Rear Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah at the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 change of command ceremony.jpg,

Muhammad Zakaullah Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah (Urdu: محمد ذكاءالله ; born 10 January 1958) is a retired admiral in the Pakistan Navy, who was the 15th Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy. He was later replaced by Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abb ...

, former Chief of Naval Staff File:Naelachohan1982.jpg,

Naela Chohan Naela Chohan (Urdu: نائلہ چوہان, alternative spelling ''Naila Chohan'') (born 6 May 1958 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan) is a Pakistani ambassador, artist and diplomat. As a seasoned and veteran diplomat, ambassador Chohan has assumed a le ...

, Pakistani diplomat and women rights activist File:Sartaj Aziz (cropped).jpg,

Sartaj Aziz Sartaj Aziz ( ur, ; born 7 February 1929) is a Pakistani economist and a strategist, having previously served as the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, member of the federal cabinet as the ''de facto'' Minister for Forei ...

, Pakistani economist and a strategist who serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs File:Abrar-ul-Haq 2014-05-10.jpg, Abrar-ul-Haq, Pakistani musician and politician File:Khalid Wynne (close-up).jpg, General

Khalid Shameem Wynne General Khalid Shameem Wynne ( ur, ; 28 August 1953 – 30 December 2017), was a four-star General in the Pakistan Army who served as the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee appointed in 2010 until retiring on 8 October 2013. ...

, retired Pakistani four-star general officer File:Nasim Zehera interviewing Mike Mullen in 2010 (cropped).jpg,

, leading journalist File:Zahid headshot.jpg,

, as a Member of Parliament of Canada File:Dr.Hussain.png,

, a Pakistani chemist and manomaterials scientist File:Ayesha Siddiqa (cropped).jpg,

Ayesha Siddiqa Ayesha Siddiqa ( ur, ), (born April 7, 1966), is a Pakistani political scientist, a political commentator and an author who serves as a research associate at the SOAS South Asia Institute. She previously served as the inaugural Pakistan Fellow ...

, a Pakistani military scientist

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quaid-I-Azam University Universities and colleges in Islamabad Public universities and colleges in Pakistan 1967 establishments in Pakistan Educational institutions established in 1967 Islamabad Capital Territory Memorials to Muhammad Ali Jinnah