Arizona State University partners with Pakistan to launch National Institute of Technology

In the first-of-its-kind joint venture, US-based educational institution, Arizona State University, has collaborated with Pakistan to launch a new National Institute of Technology (NIT). 

The NIT campus will be located in Lahore and the university will have two main schools: the School of Management Sciences and the School of Data Sciences and Information Technology. The university is expected to commence classes in fall 2025. 

This project marks the first time an American university is establishing an on-ground presence in Pakistan. Here’s everything you need to know about the proposed institution.

The initiative is spearheaded by two main individuals, Shahzeb Awan, a lawyer hailing from the University of London, and Jahanzeb Burana, a Harvard MBA graduate with a background in finance. The partnership for NIT was made official in April 2025, at the Arizona State University (ASU) Tempe campus in the US. 

According to ASU, the new university is best described as, “a student-centric university that prepares Pakistani and international students to compete with the best in the world by immersing them in a high-calibre American curriculum and learning experience.” Both parties also recognise that NIT will remain committed to upholding local values and cultural identity while delivering world-class education and building strong industry connections.

The new institution will inevitably open many doors of opportunity for Pakistani students. For instance, enrolled students will have the option to pursue dual degree programmes, allowing them to obtain stimulus to obtain a degree from both NIT and ASU. They will also have the flexibility to choose how much of their programme they wish to complete in Pakistan.

Students will also have the opportunity to study abroad, not only within the US, but at various locations worldwide. In addition to the university’s strong presence in Arizona, ASU also has academic centres in Washington D.C. and California. Outside of the US, the ASU-Cintana Alliance also provides students the opportunity for exchange programmes at over 30 different global universities.

Ahead of the new collaboration, Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, met with ASU representatives on July 24, and shared his remarks on the new alliance.

“This partnership is a significant milestone. The NIT will serve as a world-class institution that trains Pakistani youth to compete globally,” he said, as reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan. He also emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to higher education goals stating, “All government education policies are centred around creating employment opportunities for youth based on their professional capabilities,” he added.