University of the Punjab


The University of the Punjab, also referred to as Punjab University, is a public research university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Punjab University is the oldest public university in Pakistan. With multiple campuses in Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Khanspur, the university was formally established by the British Government after convening the first meeting for establishing higher education institutions in October 1882 at Simla. 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 who attend the university, and Punjab University has a total of 13 faculties within which there are 83 academic departments, research centers, 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. In the recently issued rankings of Asian universities by QS World Universities Rankings, Punjab University jumped from the 232nd to 193rd position, improving its position by 39 places. Punjab University also ranks 251–300 in the subject of Agriculture and Forestry, 501–550 in the subject of Physics & Astronomy and 501–550 in the subject of Chemistry according to QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019.

History

The University of Punjab was given its initial impetus in 1854 by Wood's despatch. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner was the founder of the university. Contrary to the three previously established universities, which were only examining institutions, the University of the Punjab was both a teaching as well as an examining body right from the beginning.
From its formation in 1882 until 1947, the University of the Punjab served the educational needs of the entire region of pre-independence Punjab and northern India. Mohindra College, Patiala was the first college of higher learning to affiliate with University of Punjab in 1882; followed by St. Stephen's College, Delhi. The independence of Pakistan in 1947 reduced the geographical jurisdiction of the university, as it was split into two separate universities in the respective countries. The Indian portion of the university is referred to as Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. The current Institute of Administrative Sciences was created in 1962.
Many major institutions that were previously affiliated to Punjab University have now become independent universities on their own, such as Government College University, Lahore and Medical and Engineering Colleges.
Prof. Arthur Compton, who discovered Compton effect used to be an appointed lecturer in University of Punjab and its affiliated campus Government College University, Lahore, he received the Nobel Prize in 1927.

Campus

The University of the Punjab is divided into several campuses across Punjab with one summer campus located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

Faculties

There are 13 faculties in the University with 10 constituent colleges, 73 departments, centres, 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

Punjab University Library is one of the largest libraries among the universities of Pakistan. The library has more than 500,000 books, magazines and periodicals in its collection. This collection is in nine different national and international languages and different types as print material, CDs, DVDs, Microfilms, Microfiches, Video and Audio Cassettes and Manuscripts.
Punjab University Library has two-storey building and total area of the building is 102,000 sq. feet. There are reading halls in both ground and 1st floor with approximately seating capacity of 2500 readers. The library has internet lab for the students to research according to the new technologies of 21st century. In the library there is computerised "MLIMs" catalogue for searching material.

Notable alumni