LAHORE – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan announced on Monday the fifth ranking of higher education institutions for 2013-2014 with an aim to boost academic and research culture among Pakistani universities, and encourage them to compete at international level. HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad announced the ranking during a press conference held at the Commission Secretariat. The ranking was carried out under various categories – including engineering and technology, business education, agriculture and veterinary, medical, and arts and design. As many as 73 higher education institutions have made their place in the general category with the Quaid-e-Azam University, University of the Punjab, COMSATS, University of Karachi, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, LUMS, Government College University (Faisalabad), and University of Peshawar on the top. Overall Top 10 Higher Education Institutions: 1 – Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad 2 – University of the Punjab, Lahore 3 – National University of Science and Technology (NUST) 4 – University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 5 – Aga Khan University 6 – COMSATS Institute of Information Technology 7 – Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad 8 – University of Karachi 9 – University of Health Sciences, Lahore 10 – University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that the ranking is based on the data collected during 2013-14, adding that the HEC verified and counter-checked the data from all the universities before compiling the final ranking.