National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences

The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, commonly known as FAST-NUCES or FAST National University, is a private, not-for-profit university in Pakistan. Its central administration is in Islamabad and its academic network comprises campuses in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Chiniot-Faisalabad, and Multan. The institution is sponsored by the Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology, usually abbreviated as FAST, which was established as a charitable organization to promote education, research, and technological capability in Pakistan. FAST’s institutional roots reach back to the 1980s, when the foundation was created with the participation of Justice (Retd.) Syed Akhlaq Hussain and financial support associated with Hasan Abidi, founder of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. The foundation initially focused on advancing scientific and technological education. It became particularly significant in Pakistan’s information-technology sector through early computer-science education and training initiatives. The university itself received a federal charter under Ordinance No. XXIII of 2000, dated 1 July 2000, and was inaugurated in 2000. This made it one of Pakistan’s earliest private-sector universities established under a federal charter and the country’s first multi-campus university of its kind. The university’s academic identity is centered on computing and emerging technologies. Its computing portfolio includes computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, software engineering, computer engineering, computer networks, and software project management. Engineering education includes electrical engineering, civil engineering, and related graduate and doctoral work. Through its Faculty of Management Sciences, the university also offers business administration, accounting and finance, business analytics, financial technology, management sciences, and MBA programs. Science and humanities offerings include mathematics and applied linguistics at graduate level. Doctoral programs extend across computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, mathematics, and management sciences. FAST operates as an educational institution rather than a commercial product brand. Its main offerings are degree programs, research supervision, laboratories, professional learning, and student-development activities. The university describes itself as a not-for-profit institution and has used subsidized tuition and financial-assistance mechanisms, including loans for deserving students, to widen access. Program availability varies by campus. The Islamabad campus functions as the principal administrative and academic hub; Karachi has main and city-campus facilities; Lahore is based in Faisal Town; Peshawar serves students in Hayatabad; the Chiniot-Faisalabad campus is located near Faisalabad; and Multan is the newest addition to the network. The institution is widely associated with Pakistan’s technology workforce and has maintained a strong national reputation in computer science and information technology. Its engineering programs are accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council, while the university’s computing and research activities are supported by laboratories in several campuses, including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi. A Higher Education Commission ranking cited in reference material placed FAST among Pakistan’s leading institutions for computer science and information technology in 2020. Alumni have entered technology, entertainment, creative, and business fields, although the university’s principal public identity remains its academic and research contribution to computing and related disciplines.

The institutional history of FAST-NUCES begins with the Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology, a charitable body established in Pakistan during the 1980s. Justice (Retd.) Syed Akhlaq Hussain was associated with the foundation’s establishment, while Hasan Abidi, founder of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, provided substantial financial support for its effort to advance computer science and emerging technologies. FAST became an early contributor to Pakistan’s information-technology education ecosystem and helped develop computer-science teaching before the subject had become a mainstream university specialization in the country. The university was formally created through Pakistan’s federal chartering process in 2000. Ordinance No. XXIII of 2000, dated 1 July 2000, established the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences as a federally chartered private-sector university. Its inauguration took place in 2000. The charter gave FAST a national institutional framework and allowed it to develop a multi-campus model rather than operate as a single-city college. Islamabad became the administrative center, while campuses were subsequently developed in other major Pakistani cities and regions. FAST’s early and continuing academic emphasis has been computing, software, information technology, and related scientific disciplines. It later broadened its portfolio through engineering, business, mathematics, applied linguistics, and management sciences. This expansion enabled the university to offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education while retaining a technology-focused identity. Its engineering programs are accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council, and research laboratories have been developed at several campuses. The current network includes campuses in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Chiniot-Faisalabad, and Multan. The Islamabad campus at H-11/4 is the main administrative and academic hub. Karachi operates facilities associated with both its main and city campuses. Lahore is located in Faisal Town, Peshawar in Hayatabad, Chiniot-Faisalabad on the Faisalabad-Chiniot Road, and Multan serves as the newest campus in the network. The campuses provide different combinations of computing, engineering, business, and graduate programs. FAST’s development has coincided with the growth of Pakistan’s technology sector. The university is frequently recognized nationally for computing and information-technology education, and reference material identifies it as a leading institution in those fields in a 2020 Higher Education Commission ranking. Its not-for-profit structure, subsidized fee approach, and financial-assistance programs distinguish it from a conventional commercial education provider. By combining a national campus network with specialized computing education and research, FAST-NUCES has become one of Pakistan’s prominent institutions for technology-oriented higher education.

• 2020

  High national standing in computing and information technology

  [1]National University of Computer and Emerging Sciencesen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material identifies FAST as ranked among Pakistan’s leading institutions in computer science and information technology by the Higher Education Commission.

• 2000

  Federal charter and university inauguration

  [1]National University of Computer and Emerging Sciencesen.wikipedia.org

  Ordinance No. XXIII of 2000, dated 1 July, granted the institution a federal charter, and the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences was inaugurated during the year.

• 1980

  FAST foundation established

  [1]National University of Computer and Emerging Sciencesen.wikipedia.org

  The Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology was established as a charitable institution to promote scientific, technological, and computer-related education in Pakistan.

A Pakistani not-for-profit, multi-campus university positioned around rigorous computing and technology education, supported by engineering, management, science, and research programs.

• Higher education

  Computing programs

  FAST’s core academic offering includes undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral study in computer science and adjacent fields. Programs cover artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, computer networks and security, software project management, and computer engineering. The portfolio reflects the university’s historical role in expanding formal computer-science education in Pakistan and its continuing emphasis on applied and emerging technologies.

• Higher education

  Engineering programs

  The Faculty of Engineering offers programs including electrical engineering, civil engineering, and computer engineering, with related master’s and doctoral opportunities. Engineering education extends the university’s technology focus into infrastructure, hardware, systems, and applied engineering. The university states that its engineering programs are accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council.

• Higher education

  Management sciences programs

  Management-science offerings include the Bachelor of Business Administration, accounting and finance, business analytics, financial technologies, management sciences, and MBA study. These programs give the university a business and organizational dimension alongside its better-known computing and engineering disciplines.

• Higher education

  Science and humanities programs

  Graduate study in science and humanities includes mathematics and applied linguistics. These subjects support the university’s broader postgraduate and research ecosystem and complement its technical and management faculties.

• Research

  Research laboratories

  FAST supports research through laboratories located at several campuses, including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi. The laboratories provide an institutional base for work in computing, information technology, engineering, and related areas, although the available reference material does not provide a complete catalog of laboratory names or research outputs.

1. 1National University of Computer and Emerging Sciencesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2FAST National University official websitenu.edu.pk