A Recent View of Engineering Education in Pakistan

Engineering education in Pakistan receives less attention from governmental quarters than its importance to the country would justify. Evidence of the fact is that of the 24 universities established in Pakistan since the nation was founded, only six offer engineering. Thus the country has been unable to produce the needed manpower for its development. Furthermore, the meager national investment in engineering education offers little hope of improvement. Similarly, the total human resource output from the universities is unimpressive. In the four-year study period reported in this paper, less than eight percent of the enrolled candidates were successful in earning post-graduate degrees.¹ Only one percent of these had begun doctorate level research, with none receiving degrees by the end of the period. This paper reviews academic trends affecting engineering students and their priorities. Graduation rates and governmental financial support for the study period have been statistically analyzed.