Stanford University and Elsevier placed 1,034 researchers from Pakistani institutions onto the global top 2% scientists list for 2026, positioning Pakistan 33rd worldwide based on the count of featured academics. Representation from Pakistan rose by 9.3% compared to the 946 scientists included in 2025, showing a 325.5% expansion since 2020 when 243 local researchers made the single-year ranking.
The list supplied for 2026 details the following twenty leading Pakistani researchers alongside their respective universities and institutions.
Top 20 Pakistani Scientists in the 2026 Rankings
- Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
The Aga Khan University - Muhammad Ashraf
University of Lahore - Salim Shahbuddin Virani
The Aga Khan University - Ayesha Kausar
National Center for Physics - Muhammad Sajid
University of Management and Technology, Lahore - Muhammad Akram
University of the Punjab - Jawad Abbas
University of Central Punjab - Tasawar Hayat
Quaid-i-Azam University - Muhammad Qamar Bilal
Bacha Khan University - Haroon Khan
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan - Faisal Zulfiqar
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur - Rahmat Ellahi
International Islamic University, Islamabad - Shah Fahad
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan - Muhammad Shahid Rizwan
Government College University Faisalabad - Shafaqat M. Ali
Government College University Faisalabad - Muhammad Ramzan Saeed Ashraf Janjua
Government College University Faisalabad - Muhammad Bilal Tahir
Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology - Muhammad Azam
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan - Abdur Rauf
University of Sahiwal - Usman Mehmood
University of Management and Technology, Lahore
Which Pakistani University Has the Most Scientists on the List?
Government College University Faisalabad holds the highest number of researchers among Pakistani facilities on the 2026 single-year roster, reporting 56 scientists. The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, stands second with 50.
In addition, 321 Pakistani researchers appear on the career-long impact list, which highlights academics through their total career contributions to scientific research.
