Lahore - In a development for Pakistan’s education sector, Arizona State University (ASU) has partnered with the newly established National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Lahore, marking ASU’s first exclusive collaboration in Pakistan under the ASU-Cintana Alliance. The institute will open in October 2025, offering dual degrees, international exchanges, and industry-aligned programs.
The partnership was formalized on April 16, 2025, at ASU’s Tempe campus. Co-founded by Shahzeb Awan and Jahanzeb Burana, NIT will launch with two schools: Business Studies and Digital Technologies. Dr. Faisal Bari will serve as Vice Chancellor. Located near DHA Phase 7, Lahore, the purpose-built campus aims to set new benchmarks in innovation, research, and global-standard education.
The partnership ushers in a new chapter for Pakistani higher education: NIT students will have the option to pursue dual degrees issued jointly by NIT and ASU and tap into the ASU-Cintana Alliance, a network of over 30 universities on six continents. For Pakistan’s next generation, the collaboration opens the door to world-class instruction, global exchange, and a pipeline to innovation-driven careers.
Through the ASU-Cintana Alliance, students will tap a 30-university, six-continent network devoted to cutting-edge teaching and career-ready learning. By pairing industry-shaped curricula with global resources, NIT aims to cultivate the business and technology leaders Pakistan’s future demands. “Some journeys begin with ambition,” Shahzeb Awan reflected. “Mine began with loss, guided by faith and powered by a mission to serve.”
“As the first American university in Pakistan, NIT is set to redefine the higher education landscape of the country and be a platform for nurturing world-class talent”, said Jahanzeb Burana.