Study in Pakistan Where? How? Why?

Academic UmmeSalma Mujtaba writes on programmes, institutions and what to look out for

The regulatory body Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan governs higher education in Pakistan.

Overseas applicants must have a higher secondary school certificate from the Federal Board Pakistan (intermediate grade 12) or an equivalent examination.

The latter must submit an Equivalence Certificate issued by the Inter Board Chairman Committee, Islamabad (IBCC) that indicates the marks equivalent to those of the intermediate exam.

Physics, chemistry and mathematics are mandatory subjects at the higher secondary level for admission to any engineering programme.

Physics, chemistry and biology are mandatory at the higher secondary level for admission to any medical programme.

Applicants must appear for entrance tests for most of programmes. For detailed schedules check the relevant websites.

For any engineering degree, students and parents must make sure that the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) accredits the university.

PEC is the body that recognises qualifications granted by universities, colleges and institutions offering engineering in Pakistan.

All students, and especially the parents, must ask to see the accreditation status of an engineering programme at the various universities/institutions and campuses or affiliated colleges of the chartered universities before seeking admission.

After graduation the PEC only registers students graduating from institutions that offer accredited engineering programmes.

For a medical degree, check for accreditation from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC).

The General Medical Council UK automatically recognises all the colleges recognised by the PM&DC and the graduates of these colleges are eligible to sit for the P.L.A.B or Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Test for higher education in the UK.

Engineering institutions accredited by the PEC

ISLAMABAD

• Islamic International Engineering College (RIPHAH University), Islamabad
  BSc Electrical Engineering (Communication)
• COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (Islamabad Campus), Islamabad
  BSc Computer Engineering
• Bahria University, Islamabad
  BSc Computer Engineering, BSc Software Engineering

PUNJAB

• University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
  BSc Engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, mining, petroleum and industrial and manufacturing engineering).
• Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Lahore (University of the Punjab)
  BSc Engineering (chemical, metallurgy and materials science)
• University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
  BSc Agricultural Engineering
• NFC Institute of Engineering and Technological Training, Multan (Bahauddin Zakariya University)
  BSc Engineering (chemical)
• College of Electrical and Mechanical, Rawalpindi (NUST)
  BE (electrical, mechanical and computer) 
• BE (mechatronics) Military College of Signals, Rawalpindi (NUST)
  BE Electrical (Communication) and Computer Software
• University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
  BSc Engineering (civil, electrical and mechanical), BSc Computer Engineering
• University College of Engineering and Technology, (BZU) Multan
  BSc (Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering)
• Military College of Signals, Rawalpindi (NUST)
  BE Electrical (Communication) and Computer Software
• University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
  BSc Engineering (civil, electrical and mechanical) BSc Computer Engineering
• University College of Engineering and Technology, (BZU) Multan
  BSc (civil engineering and electrical engineering)
• National Textile University, Faisalabad (Formerly National College of Textile Engineering, UET, Lahore)
  BSc Textile Engineering
• NFC, Institute of Engineering and Fertiliser Research, Faisalabad (UET, Lahore)
  BSc (Chemical Engineering)
• Foundation University, Rawalpindi
  BSc Software Engineering accredited for one year (entry year 2001)
• NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
  BSc Engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, mining and agriculture)
  BSc Chemical Engineering (Re-accreditation is under process)
  BSc Computer Information Systems
• College of Aeronautical Engineering, Risalpur  (NUST)
  BE (aerospace and avionics)
• Military College of Engineering, Risalpur (NUST)
  BE Civil  
• Ghulam Ishaque Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi Swabi
  BSc Engineering (mechanical, electronics, metallurgy and material, computer system)
  BSc Engineering (engineering sciences with majors in modelling and simulation, or laser and optical electronics or semi-conductors and super conducting devices).
• CECOS University of Information Technology and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar
  BSc Civil Engineering, BSc Electrical Engineering
• Peshawar College of Engineering (NWFP UET), Peshawar
  BSc Electrical Engineering

SINDH

• NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi
  BE (civil, electrical, mechanical, electronics and industrial and manufacturing), BE (computer systems and textile)
• Institute of Industrial Electronics Engineering (PCSIR), Karachi, (NED-UET)
  BE (Industrial Electronics)
• Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro
  BE (civil, electrical, mechanical, electronics, industrial, petroleum, computer system, chemical, metallurgical and mining), BE Telecommunication, BE Software
• Usman Institute of Technology, Karachi (Hamdard University)
  BE (electronics and computer systems)
• Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi
  BS (electronics, bio-medical and computer engineering), BS Civil
• Pakistan Navy Engineering College, Karachi (NUST)
  BE (electrical and mechanical), BE (electronics)
• Quaid-e-Azam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabshah
  BE (civil, electrical, mechanical), BE (computer systems)
• Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 
  BE (agricultural)
• Hamdard Institute of Information Technology (HIIT), Hamdard University Karachi    
  BE Computer Systems
• Dawood College of Engineering and Technology (MUET Jamshoro), Kararchi
  BE (electronics), BE (chemical), BE (metallurgical)

BALOCHISTAN

• Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar
  BE (civil, electrical and mechanical)

AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR

• Ali Ahmad Shah, University College of Engineering and Technology, Mirpur (AJ&K)
  BSc (electrical engineering) Accreditation expired in 2003. Re-accreditation is under process.

- Information courtesy PEC official website www.pec.org.pk

Medical institutions accredited by the PEC

PUNJAB

• Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore
• Army Medical College, Rawalpindi
• Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore
• King Edward Medical College, Lahore
• Nishtar Medical College, Multan
• Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad
• Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur
• Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi
• De?Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore
• Dental Section, Nishtar Medical College, Multan
• Dental Section, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi
• Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore
• F.M.H. College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore
• Dental Section, F.M.H. College of Medicine and
  Dentistry, Lahore
• Foundation University Medical College, Rawalpindi
• Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi
• Dental Section, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi
• Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore
• Dental Section, Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore
• Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad
• Margalla College of Dentistry, Rawalpindi
• Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt
• Faculty of Health Sciences/University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

SINDH

• Chandka Medical College, Larkana
• Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
• Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi
• Dental Section, Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi
• Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro
• Dental College, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences/L.M.C, Jamshoro
• Peoples Medical College for Girls, Nawabshah
• Sindh Medical College, Karachi
• Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi
• Baqai Medical College, Karachi
• Baqai Dental College, Karachi
• Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi
• Faculty of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences/Isra University, Hyderabad
• Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi
• Dental Section, Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi
• Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi
• Dental Section, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi
• Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences for Girls, Karachi
• Ziauddin Medical College, Karachi
• Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi
• Altamash College of Dental Medicine, Karachi
• Mohammad Medical College, Mirpurkhas

NWFP

• Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad
• Dental Section, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad
• Khyber Medical College, Peshawar
• Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar
• Saidu Medical College, Swat
• Gomal Medical College, D.I. Khan
• Frontier Medical College, Abbottabad.
• Kabir Medical College/GIMS, Peshawar
• Sardar Begum Dental College (for BDS)
• Women Medical College, Abbottabad

BALOCHISTAN

• Bolan Medical College, Quetta
• Dental Section, Bolan Medical College, Quetta

Other courses in Pakistan

The country has more than 100 universities other than those offering medical and engineering education. These are universities accredited by the HEC Pakistan. They offer diverse degrees in various fields.

Some of the top programmes are:

• Management Sciences - BBA, BBA (Hons)
• Information Technology - BIT
• Computer Sciences - BCS, BS
• Media Science - BS
• LLB - Law
• Development and Economics - BSC
• Arabic
• Applied Sciences
• Economics
• Language and Literature
• Social Sciences
• Mathematics, JMC, Statistics
• Physics
• Development Studies
• Environmental Sciences
• Education and Arts
• Geology/Geophysics
• Botany
• Zoology
• Chemistry
• Economics
• Islamic Studies
• Behavioural Sciences
• Public Administration
• Communication Science
• Gender Studies
• Computer Science
• English
• Fine Arts
• Education
• Business Administration
• Environmental Sciences
• Defence and Diplomatic Studies