LAHORE: In a groundbreaking development for Pakistan’s higher education landscape, Arizona State University (ASU) has partnered with Pakistan to establish the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Lahore—marking the first-ever physical campus presence of a U.S. university in the country.
Set to welcome its first batch of students in Fall 2025, NIT will feature two primary academic divisions: the School of Management Sciences and the School of Data Sciences and Information Technology. The institute aims to deliver an American-standard curriculum tailored to Pakistan’s cultural and educational context.
The project is being spearheaded by Shahzeb Awan, a University of London-trained lawyer, and Jahanzeb Burana, a Harvard-educated finance expert. The formal agreement was signed in April 2025 at ASU’s main campus in Tempe, Arizona.
ASU officials described the initiative as a student-centric model that will equip Pakistani graduates with globally competitive skills. The partnership will offer dual-degree programs, allowing students to earn qualifications from both ASU and NIT, while also providing opportunities for international study at ASU’s global campuses—including in Washington D.C., California, and through more than 30 partner universities under the ASU-Cintana Alliance.
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Following a meeting with ASU representatives on July 24, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the collaboration as a milestone for Pakistan’s education system, calling NIT a “world-class institution” that will empower youth and prepare them for success in international markets. He reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering modern, skills-based education aligned with global economic demands.
The launch of NIT is poised to open new academic pathways, generate employment opportunities, and bolster Pakistan’s presence on the global higher education stage.