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HEC Announces NSCT 2026 Results: University Rankings and Average Scores in IT Skills Assessment

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24 June, 2026

HEC Announces NSCT 2026 Results: University Rankings and Average Scores in IT Skills Assessment

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has released the results of the National Skills Competency Test (NSCT) 2026, one of Pakistan’s largest nationwide assessments aimed at evaluating the IT and digital skills of university students.

Conducted under the Prime Minister’s directive, the NSCT 2026 examination was held on April 4-5, 2026, bringing together students from universities across the country to assess their competencies in emerging technologies, programming, cybersecurity, and problem-solving.

More Than 40,000 Students Registered

According to HEC, a total of 40,784 students registered for the National Skills Competency Test 2026. Out of these, 33,038 candidates appeared in the examination, resulting in an overall participation rate of approximately 81 percent.

The assessment was conducted in 188 universities located in 122 cities across Pakistan, making it one of the country's most extensive university-level IT benchmarking exercises.

Purpose of the NSCT

The National Skills Competency Test was introduced to evaluate the digital capabilities of university students and provide higher education institutions with valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

The assessment helps:

Measure students’ practical IT skills.
Benchmark institutional performance.
Identify gaps in technology education.
Improve curriculum development.
Support industry-academia collaboration.
Enhance graduate employability.

HEC believes the results will help universities align their academic programs with the needs of Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Highest Performing Skill Areas

The results indicate that students demonstrated stronger performance in several key areas of information technology and computing.

The highest proficiency areas include:

Web Development Basics
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Software Engineering
Problem Solving and Analytics
Programming Fundamentals

These findings suggest growing student interest and competence in modern technology fields and digital skills.

Areas Requiring Improvement

The assessment also highlighted several domains where students require additional training and academic support, including:

Cyber Security
Database Systems
Data Structures and Algorithms
Cloud Computing and Computer Networks
Operating Systems

Experts believe these areas should receive greater emphasis in university curricula to meet industry demands and international standards.

Provincial Performance Overview

The NSCT 2026 results also reveal differences in student performance across provinces and regions, providing policymakers and educational institutions with important insights into regional disparities in digital skills and IT education.

The provincial analysis can help governments and universities design targeted interventions to improve student outcomes and strengthen technology education nationwide.

Institutional Rankings and Performance

University-Wise Results

Institute	Student Appeared	average score	Pass Percentage
Institute of Business Administration, Karachi	17	70.76	100%
Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore	5	68.2	100%
Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Islamabad	48	64.29	98%
Habib University, Karachi	58	65.29	97%
Information Technology University of the Punjab, Lahore	115	60.88	90%
National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad	579	62.69	89%
National University of Science & Technology, Islamabad	74	62.23	89%
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Swabi	67	59.33	88%
Namal University, Mianwali	42	58.67	86%
NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi	429	59.21	84%
University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore	212	57.96	82%
Government college University, Lahore	130	56.7	80%
Forman Christian College, Lahore	46	57.46	74%
Air University, Islamabad	325	54.63	70%
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad	70	52.73	70%
Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore	26	54.58	69%
Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur	204	53.99	68%
University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila	188	53.19	68%
The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad	40	53.25	68%
City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar	119	52.29	65%
Bahria University, Islamabad	364	52.39	64%
Comsats University Islamabad, Islamabad	1824	53.09	63%
University of the Punjab, Lahore	611	53.29	63%
Superior University Lahore, Lahore	102	51.75	60%
Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur	334	51.26	58%
Jinnah University for Women, Karachi	24	49.79	58%
Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad	161	51.55	58%
National Textile University, Faisalabad	97	51.69	57%
National University of Technology, Islamabad	91	51.3	56%
University of Karachi, Karachi	264	51.52	56%
Gift University, Gujranwala	234	51.03	55%
Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar	124	51.84	55%
University of Gwadar, Gwadar	11	50.55	55%
University of Sargodha, Sargodha	185	50.85	54%
Usman Institute of Technology University, Karachi	175	50.59	54%
Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad	315	49.79	54%
University of Central Punjab, Lahore	640	50.43	53%
International Islamic University, Islamabad	201	49.71	53%
University of Management and Technology, Lahore	707	50.15	52%
Lahore College for Women University, Lahore	91	49.48	52%
University of Haripur, Haripur	300	49.7	51%
National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad	261	49.94	50%
Government College Women University, Sialkot	131	48.31	50%
University of Turbat, Trbat	33	49.42	48%
Riphah International University Lahore Campus	171	48.53	48%
Beaconhouse National University, Lahore	21	48.86	48%
Fatima Jinnah Women University , Rawalpindi	99	49.2	47%
Institute of Business Management, Karachi	64	49.36	47%
Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta	108	48.97	46%
Hamdard University, Karachi	64	48.22	45%
Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro	213	48.65	45%
Ziauddin University, Karachi	68	46.01	44%
Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad	109	47.68	44%
Government College University, Faisalabad	115	48.14	43%
University of Gujrat, Gujrat	744	47.49	43%
Iqra University, Karachi	1374	46.89	43%
DHA Suffa University	368	47.02	43%
University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar	29	46.07	41%
The University of Lahore, Lahore	351	47.27	40%
Imperial College of Business Studies, Lahore	5	39	40%
International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology, Gujranwala	110	46.63	39%
Foundation University, Islamabad	129	46.62	39%
Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi	172	46.1	38%
Dawood University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi	237	45.79	38%
Sir Syed CASE Institute of Technology, Islamabad	40	46.03	38%
Rawalpindi Women University, Rawalpindi	149	46.28	37%
Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur	172	45.67	37%
NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology, Multan	282	44.94	36%
University of Engineering & Technology, Mardan	122	45.95	35%
Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi	425	46.05	35%
University of Peshawar, Peshawar	83	46.16	34%
Muhammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi	159	46.4	33%
University of Rasul, Mandi Baha u din	3	44.33	33%
Government College Women University, Faisalabad	197	44.81	33%
Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology, Karachi	263	44.76	32%
Lahore Garrison University, Lahore	669	44.96	32%
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan	267	43.54	31%
University of Sialkot, Sialkot	211	44.31	31%
National Skills University, islamabad	26	45.04	31%
University of South Asia, Lahore	130	43.57	31%
Federal Govt. Postgraduate College for Women , Wah Cantt	23	43.52	30%
Institute for Art and Culture, Lahore	33	43.09	30%
The shaikh Ayaz University Shikarpur	10	43	30%
The University of Bhakkar, Thal	60	42.82	30%
Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi	47	42.49	30%
Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi	357	43.3	30%
University of Malakand, Dir	128	45.38	30%
HITEC University, Taxila	183	44.74	30%
University of Wah, Wah	89	43.03	29%
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology, Karachi	229	44.04	29%
Baba Guru Nanak University, Nankana Sahib	119	45.27	29%
University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad	196	42.93	29%
Virtual University of Pakistan, Islamabad	3135	44.07	28%
KASB Institute of Technology, Karachi	25	46.48	28%
Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology	47	43.72	28%
University of Mianwali, Mianwali	159	44.06	27%
The University of Chenab, Gujrat	15	45.87	27%
Hajvery University, Lahore	19	42.74	26%
University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal	19	44.68	26%
Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat	69	41.29	26%
Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan	401	42.47	26%
University of Chakwal, Chakwal	124	44.1	26%
University of the Poonch, Rawalakot	74	43.08	26%
University of Swat, Swat	160	41.92	26%
CECOS University, Peshawar	114	43.52	25%
University of Education, Lahore	902	42.32	25%
SOHAIL University, Karachi	4	38.25	25%
University of Okara, Okara	133	43.08	25%
Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Sciences and Technology, Nawabshah	174	43.29	25%
Ibadat International University Islamabad	70	42.53	24%
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad	586	42.04	24%
Abasyn University, Peshawar	122	41.1	23%
Grand Asian University, Sialkot	22	43.18	23%
Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur	36	40.14	22%
University of Narowal, Narowal	126	42.56	22%
Islamia University, Bahawalpur	1689	41.75	22%
Islamia College, Peshawar	139	40.35	22%
Isra University, Hyderabad	51	41.22	22%
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan	78	41.9	21%
Qarshi University, Lahore	5	45.2	20%
National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore	147	41.07	19%
Indus University, Karachi	106	41.53	19%
Bacha Khan University, Charsadda	33	39.15	18%
Muslim Youth University, Islamabad	11	41.18	18%
Times University, Multan	11	40.36	18%
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad	67	37.07	18%
Government College University, Hyderabad	172	39.98	17%
University of Chitral, Chitral	23	40.09	17%
Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Abbottabad	76	41.04	17%
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad	76	40.43	17%
MNS University of Agriculture, Multan	468	40.68	17%
Karakuram International University, Gilgit	114	41.46	17%
Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal Lasbela	18	39.44	17%
Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University, Quetta	24	38.25	17%
University of Sindh, Jamshoro	384	39.34	16%
Iqra National University, Peshawar	68	38.62	16%
Mir Chakar Khan Rind University, Sibi	25	38.92	16%
Qurtuba University, Peshawar	67	38.88	16%
University of Southern Punjab Multan	70	40.47	16%
University of Shangla, Shangla	13	40.77	15%
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal. Upper Dir	26	37.07	15%
Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur	191	39.46	15%
University of Balochistan, Quetta	53	37.3	15%
Emerson University, Multan	158	40.45	15%
Alhamd Islamic University, Islamabad Campus	21	39.48	14%
Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar	84	38.69	14%
Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan	187	37.28	14%
Hazara University, Mansehra	187	40.47	14%
MNS University of Engineering & Technology, Multan	29	38.76	14%
Women University Mardan, Mardan	29	36	14%
The Women University, Multan	146	39.11	14%
Lahore Leads University, Lahore	242	39.16	14%
University of Swabi, Swabi	126	37.93	13%
Emaan Institute of Management and Sciences,Karachi	30	37.47	13%
Gomal University, DIKhan	91	37.37	13%
Ghazi National Institute of Engineering and Sciences, Dera Ghazi Khan	31	37.32	13%
ILMA University, Karachi	39	40.38	13%
Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur	8	38.13	13%
University of FATA, Darra Adam Khel	24	35.38	13%
University of Kotli (AJ&K)	121	38.37	12%
University of Jhang, Jhang	90	39.07	12%
Kohsar University, Murree	51	38.57	12%
University of Technology, Nowshera	17	35.53	12%
Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari (BBSUL), Karachi	71	38.56	11%
Green International University	9	39.22	11%
University of Makran, Panjgur	9	37.22	11%
Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University, Sukkur	41	38.56	10%
University of Baltistan, Skardu	74	39.01	9%
University of Science & Technology, Lahore	46	38.15	9%
Women University Swabi, Swabi	59	35.05	8%
University of Loralai, Loralai	24	38.67	8%
University of Agriculture, Peshawar	332	36.05	8%
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar	37	35.81	8%
Preston University, Islamabad	50	38.12	8%
Women University of AJ&K Bagh, Bagh	29	38.38	7%
Alhamd Islamic University, Quetta	32	32.69	6%
University of Lakki Marwat, Laki Marwat	18	33	6%
Sindh Agriculture University, TandoJam	202	33.5	5%
Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar	42	34.57	5%
Northern University, Nowshera	21	37.24	5%
The University of Larkano, Larkana	21	35.1	5%
University of Sufism & Modern Sciences, Bhitshah	21	33.52	5%
University of Buner, Buner	43	35.74	2%
Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak	60	32.83	2%
BRAINS Institute, Peshawar	19	33.58	0%
Millennium Institute of Technology & Entrepreneurship (MiTE), Karachi	3	42.33	0%
Mohi-ud-Din Islamic University, Trarkhal AJ&K	3	39.33	0%
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto university of veterinary and animal sciences, sakrand	23	30.78	0%

Importance of NSCT for Universities

The NSCT serves as a national benchmark for evaluating the quality of IT education in Pakistan's higher education sector. The findings allow universities to:

Compare their performance with peer institutions.
Identify curriculum gaps.
Improve teaching quality.
Enhance industry relevance.
Develop targeted skill-building initiatives.

HEC officials say the assessment contributes to strengthening accountability and quality assurance within higher education institutions.

Future of Digital Skills Assessment in Pakistan

As Pakistan continues its digital transformation, national assessments such as NSCT are expected to play a significant role in preparing students for future careers in technology and innovation.

The data generated through NSCT can assist universities, policymakers, employers, and students in understanding the country's digital skills landscape and identifying areas requiring further investment and improvement.

The complete university-wise results, rankings, and performance indicators are expected to provide valuable guidance for institutions seeking to enhance the quality of IT education and produce industry-ready graduates.