University of the Punjab

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**University of the Punjab, Lahore**

Established	October 14, 1882
Type	Education and Research
Faculty	623
Location	Lahore, Pakistan
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	HEC
Website	www.pu.edu.pk

University of the Punjab (abbreviated as PU) (Urdu: جامعه پنجاب), colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. University of the Punjab is the oldest and largest university in Pakistan. It was formed after the first meeting of Senate on 14 October 1882. It was the fourth university formed by British Empire.

Dr. G. W. Leitner, a well-educated Hungarian and a naturalized British citizen, became its first Registrar. Dr. Leitner's contribution was instrumental in the establishment of the university.

From its formation in 1882 until 1947, the University of the Punjab served the educational needs of the entire region of pre-partition Punjab and northern India. Mohindra College, Patiala was the first college of higher learning to affiliate with University of Punjab in 1882; followed by St. Stephen's College, Delhi soon thereafter. The partition of India in 1947 reduced the geographical jurisdiction of the university.

On-campus teaching and research programs of the university are organized under more than 60 institutes, departments, and constituent colleges or centers. The university offers over one hundred degree, diploma or certificate programs. In addition to on-campus teaching and research activities, the university oversees and regulates the academic activities of over 410 affiliated colleges and institutes, imparting undergraduate, postgraduate and professional education.

An internationally renowned alumni of the university is physics Nobel laureate and co-founder of electroweak theory, Abdus Salam.

On the old campus of the university on The Mall, there stands a sole bronze statue of a man on the sidewalk. The inscription below the statue reads: "Alfred Woolner (1878-1936), a great and beloved leader." Woolner was the vice chancellor of the university from 1928 to 1936. His statue is one of the few remaining of many that were positioned in front of prominent buildings during the British Raj era. In recent years University of the Punjab has grown a lot in terms of depatments and faculty expansion. New Campuses in other cities such as Gujranwala Pakistan have been established and there is further planning to establish other campuses in different cities of Punjab, Pakistan. The University now has 4 Campuses, 13 Faculties, 9 constituent colleges, 64 Departments, Centres, Institutes, and 412 affiliated colleges. With more than 600 permanent faculty members, the university has about 25000 students directly enrolled in University campuses and a very large number enrolled in constituent colleges.