LAHORE (The Thursday Times) — In a first for Pakistan’s academic landscape, Arizona State University (ASU), the public research university heralded as one of the United States’ top-ranked institutions and one of its largest public universities, is setting up a full-fledged physical presence in Lahore. The new venture, named the National Institute of Technology (NIT), will begin offering classes in Autumn 2025.
The initiative brings a global academic model to Pakistani soil, combining American educational standards with locally relevant curricula. NIT will house two primary schools — the School of Management Sciences and the School of Data Sciences and Information Technology — offering programmes that aim to prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.
Spearheaded by Shahzeb Awan, a lawyer trained in London, and Jahanzeb Burana, a Harvard-educated finance executive, the project formalised its partnership with ASU in April 2025 at the university’s Tempe campus.
Designed around student-centred learning, the new institute offers dual degree tracks, enabling students to graduate with credentials from both NIT and ASU. The programme also includes flexible pathways for students to study in Lahore, in the United States, or at other international campuses within ASU’s extensive network.
ASU officials have positioned the project as a key part of their global engagement strategy. NIT students will be eligible for exchange programmes at ASU’s campuses in Washington D.C. and California, as well as at over thirty partner institutions through the ASU-Cintana Alliance.
Following a high-level meeting with ASU representatives on 24 July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the move a milestone for Pakistan’s higher education sector. “This is not just about education, it is about empowering our youth for a globally competitive future,” he said.
