What Iqra University does

Iqra University is a private Pakistani higher-education institution founded in 1997 (firmographics lists 1998) and headquartered in Karachi, operating eight campuses across Karachi (Main, Gulshan, North, Airport, M-9), Hyderabad, and Islamabad (H-9, Chak Shahzad). It delivers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs — including associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, an LLB, and PhDs — across 40+ disciplines such as Business Administration, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Law, Media Sciences, Cyber Security, and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The institution also runs non-degree units: IU CORE for entrepreneurship and startup support, the SkillUp Freelance Excellence Program for short-course skills training, and IU ORIC for research commercialization and IP filings.

The technology stack is IT-enabled rather than technology-native. Core infrastructure includes digital classrooms, virtual labs, an LMS (IU LMS at lms.iqra.edu.pk), an online admissions portal, a Transcript Application System, an Alumni Portal, and a 24/7 AI chatbot for student inquiries. The SkillUp program adds an 8-week weekend curriculum covering Digital Marketing, Prompt Engineering & Generative AI, UI/UX Design, SEO, Video Editing, Mobile App Development, and Website Development — with the Prompt Engineering track reporting 1,500+ enrolled students since August 2025. There are no proprietary AI models, software products sold commercially, or technology platform offerings; the digital layer is internal operational infrastructure.

Iqra University operates a direct-to-consumer GTM targeting prospective students in Pakistan through its website, call center, WhatsApp advisors, and on-campus enrollment. The revenue model is tuition-based, with semester-based billing across programs spanning 4 to 8 semesters. Specific tuition amounts are not publicly disclosed; prospective students are routed to the call center (+92-21-111-11-IQRA), email, or campus visits. Leadership is headed by Founder/Chancellor Hunaid Lakhani and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nassar Ikram, with 501–1,000 employees and no disclosed external funding or parent company.

Name

Iqra University

Legal name

Iqra University

Website

https://iqra.edu.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Iqra University is a private Pakistani higher-education institution operating 8 campuses across Karachi, Hyderabad, and Islamabad, delivering undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degree programs plus non-degree skills training through SkillUp, serving approximately 50,000+ alumni and current students via tuition-based semester enrollment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus (EDAHAEAK)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Professional skill training
• University research programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition fees across undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs including associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and PhD programs. Operates on semester-based fee structure with programs ranging from 4 to 8 semesters depending on degree level

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Iqra University is a private multi-campus higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degree programs across disciplines including Business Administration, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Law, Media Sciences, Psychology, and Health Sciences. Programs are delivered face-to-face at eight campuses across Karachi, Hyderabad, and Islamabad, supplemented by digital classrooms, virtual labs, an in-house LMS, and student support portals, with career services and research commercialization through IU ORIC.

Product overview

Iqra University is a higher education institution in Pakistan operating as a multi-campus university with 8 campuses across Karachi, Hyderabad, and Islamabad. The university offers a unified platform of academic programs and student services through integrated digital portals including the Student Portal (IU LMS), Transcript Application System, Alumni Portal, and Convocation Portal. Academic offerings span over 40 programs including undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees across disciplines such as Business Administration, Computer Science, Law, Media Sciences, and Health Sciences. The university also operates specialized units including IU CORE (innovation and entrepreneurship), the SkillUp Freelance Excellence Program (skills training), Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC), and IU ORIC (research and IP management). The product portfolio includes new initiatives like the Prompt Engineering Specialization and Iqra Law School launched in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Iqra Law School: Premium law school offering LLB program established in 2025
• IU CORE
• IU ORIC
• IU Skill-Up
• Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC)

Products and services

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Four-year undergraduate law degree aligned with HEC and Pakistan Bar Council curriculum, including moot courts, internships, and legal clinics, offered by Iqra Law School.
• Bachelors of Science in Software Engineering Undergraduate degree program in software engineering offered by the Department of Software Engineering.
• Master of Science in Cyber Security Graduate program covering ethical hacking, digital forensics, risk management, network security, and cryptography.
• Master of Science in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Graduate program equipping students with knowledge and skills for venture creation, innovation management, and business growth strategies.
• Associate Degree in Animation Two-year associate degree covering 2D and 3D animation techniques, storyboard design, and character design.
• SkillUp Freelance Excellence Program 8-week weekend program offering courses in Digital Marketing, Prompt Engineering & Generative AI, UI/UX Design, SEO and Content Creation, Video Editing, Animation & Vlogging, Mobile App Development, and Website Development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 IPs successfully granted during 2024-25 academic year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered emerging and core.

• Rwanda High CommissionemergingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Distinguished delegation from Rwanda High Commission visited Iqra University Main Campus on November 27, 2025, led by Her Excellency Harerimana Fatou. Discussions centered on collaboration opportunities in Health Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Technology, aligned with Rwanda's educational priorities for empowering communities through quality learning.
• Spectrum International University College, MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025MoU signed on August 29, 2025 focusing on joint online sessions for students and faculty, academic collaborations between institutions, and strengthening internationalization initiatives. The partnership aims to enhance student mobility, promote cultural exchange, and create expanded research opportunities. Attended by Dr. Jamal Zaidi (Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Spectrum) and Dr. M. Zaki Rashidi (Dean, IUBS), Mr. Aseem Majid Rizvi (Registrar), and Ms. Humaira Anwar (Head of Internationalisation at Iqra University).

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Riphah International University: Islamabad-based private university with multiple campuses offering health sciences, engineering, business, and computing programs. Competes in the same private-sector higher education category with comparable IT-enabled teaching approach.
• University of Central Punjab (UCP): Lahore-based private university with expanding multi-campus footprint offering business, law, computing, and engineering programs. Direct competitor for private-sector students with comparable program breadth and pricing positioning.
• SZABIST (Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology): Karachi-headquartered private university with multiple campuses across Pakistan offering business, computing, media sciences, and social science programs. Direct competitor in the Karachi market for the same student demographic and program mix.
• Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi: Premier Karachi-based business school and university offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs. Direct competitor in the Karachi market for business administration and computer science students at the higher price tier.
• COMSATS University Islamabad: Federally-supported multi-campus university focused on computing, engineering, and applied sciences with presence across multiple Pakistani cities. Competes with Iqra for tech-oriented students and shares the multi-city distribution model.
• FAST National University: Pakistan's leading private computing-focused university with multiple campuses across major cities. Direct competitor specifically in computer science, software engineering, and emerging tech programs where Iqra has invested (Cyber Security, Prompt Engineering).
• Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS): Pakistan's leading private multi-disciplinary university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs with strong emphasis on business, computer science, and law. LUMS competes directly with Iqra for the same Pakistani student pool but operates at a higher price point and global ranking tier.
• Bahria University: Federally-charted multi-campus university offering programs across business, computing, engineering, law, and health sciences with campuses in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Closest structural peer to Iqra in multi-city Pakistani private university operations.
• National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST): Pakistan's largest public-sector technical university with multi-campus operations across the country, offering engineering, computing, business, and applied sciences programs. Direct competitor for STEM and business students with comparable multi-campus distribution model.

Regional players

• Forman Christian College University: Historic Lahore-based private university offering liberal arts, sciences, business, and computing programs with chartered university status. Regional competitor in the same private-sector tier but operating primarily in Punjab rather than Karachi.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iqra_university
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeu0uTN42AVuVsVvCNizBxw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iqra University