In this article, we have listed the 10 Best Universities offering Biotechnology in Pakistan.
In the world of medicine and technology, modern genetics is a far the most common form to improve the quality of life. You are familiar with the term ‘Biotechnology’ but have really no idea; What it really is? What is it about? What is its scope? Biotechnology is nothing but a combination of biology and technology to improve the way of life. Though, it doesn’t mean it’s a simple technology relating to bio-filed. It refers to the cellular and biomolecular processes that involve vegetal, animal, or human organisms to create products and technologies.
Like other medical fields, biotechnology has great scope in Pakistan. It offers a strong role in the environmental, medical, energy, and manufacturing industry. Plus, biotechnologists are higher in demand in Pakistan as well as abroad. Biotech graduates have numerous opportunities in different industries like; research fields, medical labs, agriculture, genetic engineering, and pharmaceutics. A biotechnologist can also counter careers in the petroleum, biochemical, and food industry.
- 1. University of Punjab
- 2. Government College University Lahore
- 3. Quaid-e-Azam University
- 4. Government College University Faisalabad
- 5. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
- 6. COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus
- 7. Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST)
- 8. International Islamic University Islamabad
- 9. University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore
- 10.University Of Karachi
There are many universities in Pakistan offers biotechnology program. The question arises; Which university is the best to offer biotechnology? Which university has the best research labs for biotechnology? Which institute provides the best biotechnologist in Pakistan? What is the scope for Biotechnology? Is this a professional degree program? Well, if these questions come into your mind before choosing a university, you’re in the right place. Below, I provide a list of the top universities in Pakistan that offers biotechnology programs so so you don’t have to go through all trouble of searching.
1. University of Punjab
The first university that deserves to be on top of the list is the “University of Punjab”. The University of Punjab has a well-known reputation in the field of science, especially in biotechnology. It is the best university for biotechnology because of its research and academic achievements.
The Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology started its academic activities in 1997. The institute offers programs in biochemistry and biotechnology that include research in cell biology along with recombinant DNA technology, protein chemistry, molecular biology, and computational biology. The university has highly qualified faculty, a well-designed building, international standard research labs, a library, computer facilities, and a refreshing working environment.
At present, four degree programs; BS, M.Sc., MS & Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biotechnology are offered at the University of Punjab with 600+ students enrolled. The university also offers full bright scholarships to deserving students. Student exchange programs are also available in collaboration with international institutes like Uppsala University, St. Cloud State University, Cologne University, Cambridge, and many more. If you’re thinking of applying to the best university for biotechnology, the University of Punjab would be my first pick.
2. Government College University Lahore
Government College University Lahore takes the second spot as the best university for biotechnology because of its tremendous achievements in the field of biotechnology in the past decade. GCU offers a professional degree in industrial biotechnology. It is the most advanced field that includes numerous new products; alcoholic beverages, organic acids, enzymes, detergents, amino acids, baker’s yeast, bioplastics, health care products, biofuel, and biodiesel.
Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIB) was started in 2005 at GCU Lahore. HEC granted Rs. 48.087 million for the establishment of IIB realizing its deep economic impacts. In the recent five years, IIB has made its name in the university and around Pakistan due to its excellent high potential in industry and market. The goal of IIB to produce experts in Biotechnology and Microbiology.
GCU Lahore has its own IIB department with highly qualified faculty, state-of-the-art equipment, scientific labs, computer labs, and a life sciences library. The research work includes a variety of other fields including Fermentation Technology, Enzymology, Bioprocess Technology, Molecular Biology, Bioenergy, Tissue Culture, Protein Purification, and Bioinformatics. Workshops and Seminars are conducted regularly by expertise to provide knowledge to students. GCU Lahore offers full-bright scholarships to talented and deserving students and exchange programs for study abroad.
3. Quaid-e-Azam University
When it comes to the best universities for biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University can’t be ignored. QAU has earned the respect both in domestic and foreign platforms because of A-grade research, published journals, high-quality education, well-qualified staff, and collaborative scientific research h on an international platform.
Under the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, the Department of Biotechnology was founded in 2006. The department allows teaching and research in all level degrees; BS, M.phil, and P.hd in biotechnology. The biotechnology department provides all the facilities to students required for international-level research, from well-furnished research labs to computer labs and a library.
The research is mainly focused on interdisciplinary fields as medical biotechnology, plant biotechnology, bioprocess technology, and microbial biotechnology. Some research projects receive a grant from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, Pakistan Sciences Foundation, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, COMSTECH, and tWAS. The funding is granted for scientific interaction at international forums.
4. Government College University Faisalabad
Current developments in the field of genetics, cell therapies, and genomics have developed an interest in modern biotechnology. GCU Faisalabad ranks among the best universities that offer biotechnology. Its Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology focuses on high-quality research in the fields of biotechnology, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering by using modern computational methods. It aims to approach innovative methods of scientific and genomic research and to explore new ways of decoding the human genome.
Biotechnology involves biological systems (plants & animals) and uses technological methods to manufacture or modify products planned for human use. Whereas Bioinformatics is a combination of Biosciences, Statistics, Mathematics, and Computer Sciences. Its’s application is to develop new computer programs, databases and software are for their use in biological sciences. Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (BNB) builds bridges between different disciplines that amalgamate computational methodologies into biological education.
With the dawn of new age, GCU Faisalabad Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (BNB) has become the new professional discipline in the field of genetics. GCU Faisalabad is one of the few intuitions around the country to offer degree programs in BNB. The university has its own bioinformatics and biotechnology department with modern scientific labs, state-of-art equipment, and computer facilities. It is the vision of BNB to trained and provides experts in the field that introduce innovative methods in emerging sciences.
5. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
The University of Agriculture not only has a well-known reputation in Pakistan but also around the globe. It is considered to be one of the best universities in the fields of biotechnology and biochemistry. Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB) is known to provide quality education in Biotechnology. CAAB is heavily funded and has earned a name by providing A-grade scientific research with the collaboration of qualified faculty.
CABB is not only equipped to carry out scientific research at national and international levels but also offers five degrees; BS Agriculture major in Biotechnology, MSc Agri Biotechnology, MPhil Biotechnology, Ph.D. Biotechnology and Ph.D. Molecular Genetics and other interdisciplinary degrees relating to plant and animal sciences.
The research work includes transgenic development, somatic hybrid development, virology, OMICS approaches for germplasm characterization, plant-insect interaction, and diagnostic facilities for GMO detection and dengue characterization. The scientific targets have known potential at the international level that ranks UAF among the best universities in Pakistan to offer biotechnology.
6. COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus
COMSATS University Islamabad-Abbottabad is known to provide cutting-edge scientific research in the field of biotechnology. CUI Abbottabad has offered a degree in biotechnology since 2008, but the official department was founded in 2019 as the Department of Biotechnology. The department provides degree programs at all levels including BS, MS, and Ph.D.
The department has well-furnished scientific labs, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment computer labs and an updated central university library. CUI Abbottabad has earned a rank among the best universities when it comes to biotechnology. The campus is located at a hill station in Abottabad surrounded by hills, trees, and landscapes that provides a pleasant learning environment.
The Department is providing the best quality education to students with innovative technologies in the field of Agricultural Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Health Biotechnology, and Industrial Biotechnology. The department has collaborated with national, and international universities to broader the area of their research network to meet future challenges.
7. Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST)
Kohat University of Science and Technology offers BS Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering and ranked among the best universities for biotechnology. The Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering in KUST was set up in 2006, since then, a number of students were graduated from KUST. Located in tribal areas, the university worth more for students belonging to tribal areas.
Presently, the department of biotechnology & genetic engineering engages around 200 students in its BS program. Apart from the BS program, M.Phil and Ph.D. programs have also started at the department of biotechnology & genetic engineering. Currently, 40 M. Phil and 5 Ph.D. scholars are carrying their research activities in different domains of biotechnology including medical, pharmaceutical, environmental, industrial, Plant, and Human.
The department has a highly qualified faculty of more than 15 members out of which 10 are PhDs scholars and are actively involved in research in different fields of Biotechnology. Being in a remote area, the department has managed to a reputation to be on this list. In KPK, the department of biotechnology & genetic engineering KUST is considered to be the best because of a timeless effort by the faculty to provide this level of scientific research.
8. International Islamic University Islamabad
The International Islamic University Islamabad is well-known locally and globally in the field of biological sciences. IIUI offers all levels of degree programs in biotechnology including BS, MS, and Ph.D. It ranked as the best university for biotechnology in Pakistan because of its international-level research. Overseas students can apply for admission to IUII online. IUII also offers Foreign/Expatriate Pakistani Student exchange programs.
Being an international public university, the government has invested a lot to promote and strengthen biotechnology. The Government of Pakistan has granted about one billion rupees in R&D biotechnology. Bioinformatics started its activities in 2003 while biotechnology was established in 2008, since then it the IIU has produced independent, creative, and critical graduate and postgraduate students and researchers.
IIUI has well-furnished labs, state-of-the-art equipment, computer labs, international standard library. The faculty at IUII is well-qualified and skilled to supervise scholars of tomorrow. The main purpose for establishing the department of biotechnology is to develop a skilled human resource in biotechnology to face the real challenges of the future.
9. University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore
Apart from veterinary and animal sciences, UVAS also offers a professional degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. The Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology was established in 2009 after the recondition of the department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and Department of Biochemistry.
UVAS offers degrees in various disciplines relating to biotechnology including BS Biotechnology, BS Biochemistry, MSc Biochemistry, MSc Biotechnology, MSc Chemistry, and postgraduate degrees (M. Phil/Ph.D) in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and M. Phil Forensic Science. At present more than, 650 students are enrolled in the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology.
UVAS biotechnology program trains students in all aspects of biotechnology. It is a multidisciplinary program that magnates with biological disciplines like genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology with technical disciplines like chemical engineering and information technology. The curricula offer internships to students to continue their studies for a professional degree or to serve under a valuable foundation for career development.
10.University Of Karachi
The Department of Biotechnology at the University of Karachi was almost two decades old. The department was established in 1996 with the aim to provide quality education in the interdisciplinary field of biotechnology. The institute is ranked the best university to offer a biotechnology program in all of Sindh. Graduates of Biotechnology are often employed in the pharmaceutical and food industries of Pakistan.
The University of Karachi has well-qualified faculty along with visiting professors from bioscience departments to provide quality education and focus on scientific research. A very few institutes in Pakistan provide facilities for postgraduate research and training, there is no single department or institute that provides for organized teaching in biotechnology at all levels i.e. undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate. That’s where the University of Karachi comes in.
There are limitless opportunities for biotechnologists available in clinical laboratories, research institutes, and teaching Institutions. The graduating students can play a vital role the national developmental research by offering their services to educational institutions, R&D, and industrial organizations.
Conclusion
The scope of biotechnology integration of biological sciences with other disciplines chemistry and genetic engineering has invented novel concepts and technologies in Pakistan. It has a wide range of applications in agriculture, medicine, health care, environmental pollution, bioinsecticides, petroleum industry, and other energy sectors. Plus the program is receiving grants from HEC and international organizations. This will open a door for students to learn something new with job opportunities.