LAHORE (Staff Report) – The University of Lahore (UOL) celebrated being ranked 1st in Pakistan in the prestigious UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, a global assessment recognising institutions’ sustainability efforts, during the special closing ceremony of its second annual “Sustainability Week 2024” on December 16. The event highlighted the achievements of Sustainability Week and UOL’s remarkable successes in global rankings.
It is worth mentioning that the university recently reached a significant milestone by being ranked 1st in Pakistan and 155th globally in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. This achievement was complemented by UOL’s strong performance in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025, where it secured 3rd place overall in Pakistan and 1st among private sector universities in the country. The university’s global ranking in sustainability has now risen to 459th, reflecting its growing commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Throughout the week, over 40 events took place, ranging from interactive workshops to panel discussions led by experts. These sessions covered a wide array of sustainability topics, including climate change, social equity, and technological innovation. Academic departments and student societies at UOL played a key role in organising activities aligned with specific SDGs, promoting a sense of responsibility among students, and encouraging practical solutions to pressing global issues.
The ceremony started with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Mr Abdul Hamid Mpoza (Director, Press and Publications Cell (PPC)), followed by a presentation of video highlights from Sustainability Week. Ms Ammara Awais (Director, Office of Sustainability (OSus)) shared UOL’s strategic vision for sustainability and outlined future initiatives. The event also featured keynote speeches from distinguished guests, including Prof Hussain Haider (Vice Chairman, Pakistan Institute of Human Rights), who discussed UOL’s collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to promote quality education (SDG 4). Mr Zeeshan Bilal (Director, Planning and Design, WASA) spoke on water sustainability, and Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf (Rector, UOL) announced the university’s new rankings, marking a significant milestone in UOL’s journey towards sustainability.
Other guests present on the occasion included Mr Jehanzaib Iqbal (Senior Programme Associate, United Nations Office on Drugs), Ms Shumaila Jamil (Communications Analyst, Punjab SDGs Support Unit, UNDP), Mr Kamran Iftikhar Lone (Education Manager, UNICEF), Mr Sohail Ali Naqvi (Director, Freshwater Practice & Sustainability, WWF-Pakistan), Mr Muhammad Ahmad (Coordinator, Freshwater Programme, WWF-Pakistan), Mr Arjmand Qayyum Amjad (Senior Manager, NAMA, WWF-Pakistan), Muhammad Saad Zafar (Assistant Director, OSus) and Mr Muhammad Sufyan (Provincial Manager, Punjab, and KPK, Water Aid Pakistan).
The week’s activities were also a call to action for future initiatives. Each academic department and student society at UOL contributed to the event, focusing on specific SDGs such as quality education, water management, and responsible consumption. Competitions like “Build from Waste” encouraged creative solutions to environmental issues, while seminars on artificial intelligence in business explored the intersection of technology and sustainability.
In his closing remarks, Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf highlighted the critical role of education in driving global change and reaffirmed UOL’s commitment to sustainability. Awards were distributed to students and faculty who made notable contributions to sustainability efforts during the week.
