Islamabad: The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has achieved a major academic milestone by entering the top-tier research category in Pakistan, securing 15th place nationwide in the Higher Education Commission’s ORIC evaluation. According to Beyond Time News, the institution’s performance marks a significant leap in research quality, innovation, and academic output.
The achievement highlights PIDE’s steady progress in strengthening its research ecosystem and enhancing its national and international academic standing.
Strong Performance in HEC ORIC Evaluation
According to Beyond Time News, the Higher Education Commission’s Annual ORIC (Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization) Evaluation placed PIDE among the country’s leading research institutions after it recorded an ORIC score of 66.5.
This score helped the institute move from the Y Category to the prestigious X Category, a ranking reserved for universities demonstrating strong research governance, innovation capacity, and commercialization potential.
PIDE’s latest ranking places it 15th among 95 evaluated universities, outperforming several well-established and larger institutions across Pakistan.
Significant Improvement in Research Output
Officials noted that PIDE’s score improved by 15.5 points compared to the previous year, reflecting consistent institutional efforts to strengthen research productivity and innovation culture.
According to Beyond Time News, this improvement is linked to:
- Increased research publications
- Stronger innovation frameworks
- Improved administrative and academic coordination
- Expansion of commercialization-focused initiatives
The institute’s progress demonstrates a clear shift toward a more structured and output-driven research environment.
Leadership Calls It a Collective Achievement
Speaking on the development, PIDE Vice Chancellor Nadeem Javaid described the milestone as a result of collective effort across the institution.
He praised the ORIC team, faculty members, and administrative staff for their dedication and commitment to academic excellence.
According to Beyond Time News, Dr Javaid emphasized that the achievement should be seen as a foundation for further progress rather than a final destination.
He encouraged the academic community to continue working collaboratively to strengthen Pakistan’s research landscape.
ORIC Team Recognized for Key Role
The Vice Chancellor also specifically appreciated ORIC Director Jehangir Khan and his team for their contributions to improving research coordination and innovation systems.
Their efforts were credited with helping PIDE align more effectively with national research benchmarks set by the Higher Education Commission.
What the X Category Means
The HEC ORIC evaluation is considered Pakistan’s leading assessment system for measuring university research performance, innovation capability, and commercialization potential.
According to Beyond Time News, placement in the X Category signifies that an institution has met high standards in:
- Research governance
- Academic output
- Innovation infrastructure
- Industry collaboration potential
This recognition places PIDE among a select group of institutions demonstrating strong research leadership in the country.
Competing With Larger Universities
One of the most notable aspects of this achievement is that PIDE, a specialized policy research institute, has now surpassed several large, multi-faculty universities in the national rankings.
This reflects the institute’s focused approach to economic and development research, which has helped it outperform many broader academic institutions.
According to Beyond Time News, the ranking highlights the growing importance of specialized research institutions in Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Read more:PIDE Advises SBP to Hold Interest Rate at 10.5%
Conclusion
PIDE’s rise to the X Category in the HEC ORIC evaluation marks a significant step forward for research and innovation in Pakistan’s academic landscape. With a strong ORIC score and improved national ranking, the institute has positioned itself among the country’s leading research organizations.
As noted by Beyond Time News, the achievement reflects sustained institutional effort and sets the stage for further advancement in research excellence and policy innovation.
FAQs
1. What rank did PIDE achieve in Pakistan?
PIDE ranked 15th among 95 universities in the HEC ORIC evaluation.
2. What is PIDE’s ORIC score?
PIDE scored 66.5 in the latest HEC evaluation.
3. What does the X Category mean?
It represents top-tier research performance in the HEC ORIC ranking system.
4. Who leads PIDE?
PIDE is led by Vice Chancellor Nadeem Javaid.
5. What contributed to PIDE’s improvement?
Improved research output, innovation systems, and institutional coordination contributed to the progress.
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#PIDE #HEC #ResearchPakistan #EducationNews #Islamabad #UniversityRanking #Innovation #BeyondTimeNews


