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In a historic collaboration, Arizona State University (ASU) has partnered with Pakistan to establish the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Lahore, marking the first on-ground presence of a US university in the country.
Set to begin classes in fall 2025, NIT will house two primary schools: the School of Management Sciences and the School of Data Sciences and Information Technology.
The institute promises to offer a high-caliber American curriculum tailored to local values and cultural identity.
The project is spearheaded by Shahzeb Awan, a University of London-trained lawyer, and Jahanzeb Burana, a Harvard MBA with a finance background.
The partnership agreement was signed in April 2025 at ASU’s Tempe campus in the US.
READ: Foreign universities planning to establish campuses in Pakistan
According to ASU, NIT aims to provide “a student-centric university experience” designed to equip Pakistani and international students with the skills to compete globally.
The collaboration includes opportunities for dual degree programs, allowing students to earn degrees from both ASU and NIT, with flexibility to complete parts of the program either in Pakistan or abroad.
In addition, NIT students may benefit from study abroad programs across ASU’s global network, including campuses in Washington D.C., California, and over 30 international institutions through the ASU-Cintana Alliance.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who met with ASU officials on July 24, hailed the initiative as a major milestone for higher education.
“NIT will be a world-class institution that enables our youth to compete globally,” he stated, reinforcing the government’s commitment to employment-focused education reforms.
The launch of NIT is expected to create new academic and job opportunities for students and strengthen Pakistan’s global academic footprint.
