Lahore School of Economics

What Lahore School of Economics does

The Lahore School of Economics is a chartered private nonprofit university in Lahore, Pakistan, established in 1993 and granted statutory degree-awarding authority by the Government of Punjab in 1997 under the Lahore School of Economics Act 1997. It operates from a 35-acre main campus in DHA Phase VI with a secondary city campus in Gulberg III, and is structured around four faculties (Economics; Business Administration; Social Sciences and Media Studies, Art and Design; and Basic Sciences) plus three wholly owned research centers — the Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB), the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (GIDS), and the Innovation Technology Centre (ITC) — and three HEC-recognized academic journals (Lahore Journal of Economics, Lahore Journal of Business, Lahore Journal of Policy Studies).

The institution serves approximately 2,800 students (2,400 undergraduate and 400 graduate) through four-year honors undergraduate programs with unique double-major and major/minor combinations, a 2-year and 1.5-year MBA, a 2.5-year Executive MBA for working professionals, and MS, MPhil, and PhD research degrees with 100% merit scholarships. It is staffed by 130 full-time PhD/MPhil faculty (plus 50 part-time) and 120 MBA/MS-qualified administrative staff, with faculty drawn from McGill, Stanford, Cambridge, MIT, Oxford, Yale, LSE, and Brown.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition fees from undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and graduate programs, supplemented by international research grants and partnerships (International Growth Centre, NSF, British Academy, WTO Chairs Programme). Application fees total PKR 15,000 per applicant. Strategic positioning rests on rankings (HEC #2 Business School; RePEc #2 Economics Research 2025; only Pakistani institution in QS Top 200 International Trade 2023), NBEAC W-category accreditation, and a documented pipeline of graduates into Civil Service, State Bank of Pakistan, World Bank, IMF, and multinational corporations.

Name

Lahore School of Economics

Legal name

Lahore School of Economics

Website

https://lahoreschoolofeconomics.edu.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lahore School of Economics is a chartered private nonprofit university in Lahore, Pakistan offering undergraduate, MBA, and PhD programs in economics, finance, and business administration to approximately 2,800 students, with research output and international university partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Economics Schools (EDAHAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Economics degree programs
• Business administration education
• Academic research publishing
• Graduate management programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahore

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: The school generates revenue through tuition fees from undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, MS/MPhil, and PhD programs. Application fees of Rs. 7,500 for form and Rs. 7,500 for processing are charged. The institution offers scholarships funded through its operating revenue.
2. Research Grants and Partnerships: The institution receives funding through international research partnerships with organizations including the International Growth Centre, National Science Foundation, and British Academy for collaborative research projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lahore School of Economics is a private nonprofit degree-granting university that delivers undergraduate honors programs (BS, BBA, BFA), graduate professional programs (MBA, Executive MBA), and research degrees (MS, MPhil, PhD) in economics, finance, business administration, and related disciplines. The institution operates three research centers (Centre for Research in Economics and Business, Graduate Institute of Development Studies, Innovation Technology Centre) and publishes three peer-reviewed academic journals. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees, application fees, and externally funded research grants from international organizations.

Product overview

Lahore School of Economics is a degree-granting educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and research services. The institution operates as a unified academic platform with undergraduate programs (BS, BBA, BFA), graduate programs (MBA, Executive MBA, MS, MPhil, PhD), and three specialized research centers (CREB, GIDS, ITC). It publishes three peer-reviewed academic journals (Lahore Journal of Economics, Lahore Journal of Business, Lahore Journal of Policy Studies) and maintains an e-library with access to major international academic databases. The institution integrates AI education through dedicated courses in its MBA programs and supports research in economics, business, development studies, and environmental science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs (BS, BBA, BFA) Four-year honors undergraduate programs offering specialized education in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics, Environmental Sciences, Media Studies, Art and Design. Programs include unique double major and major/minor combinations not available elsewhere in Pakistan, designed for prospective undergraduate students seeking internationally recognized honors degrees.
• MBA Program (2-year and 1.5-year) Two-year MBA (78 credit hours) and 1.5-year MBA (42 credit hours) programs focusing on general management skills, functional areas of business, quantitative decision tools, and AI applications. Includes mandatory 6-8 week internship requirement and emphasis on Pakistan economy and Pakistani companies. Designed for working professionals and recent graduates.
• Executive MBA 2.5-year Executive MBA program (66 credit hours) designed for working executives with weekend (Saturday/Sunday) class timings, covering advanced management topics and including an Artificial Intelligence for Business Administration course. Requires minimum 3 years of work experience for admission.
• Graduate Programs (MS/MPhil/PhD) Research-focused graduate programs including MS (27-30 credit hours), MPhil (30-36 credit hours with thesis), and PhD programs in Economics, Business Administration, Environmental Science and Policy, and Development Studies. Eligible students can receive 100% merit scholarships aimed at developing teaching faculty and researchers for Pakistani and international universities.
• Lahore Journal of Economics Biannual peer-reviewed academic journal ranked among top three Social Science journals by HEC since 2003. Publishes theoretical and empirical contributions in economics with focus on developing economies and South Asia. Used by academic researchers, students, and policy professionals worldwide.
• Lahore Journal of Business Biannual open-access peer-reviewed journal publishing qualitative and quantitative research in business administration areas including Accounting, Finance, Marketing, HRM, Corporate Governance, Data Analytics, and Entrepreneurship. HEC recognized in 'Y' category.
• Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB) Research center focused on world-class research in economics, disseminating solutions for sustainable and equitable development. Supports graduate programs and manages research development fund grants for academic researchers and policy professionals.
• Graduate Institute of Development Studies (GIDS) Research institute focusing on economic development, migration studies, gender inequality, climate change impact, microfinance sustainability, and governance using a structuralist multidisciplinary approach. Hosts regular conference on the Pakistani Diaspora.
• Innovation Technology Centre (ITC) Research center established 2015, focusing on innovation, productivity, manufacturing, exports, and environmental sustainability. Part of WTO Chairs Programme and conducts annual surveys for evidence-based policymaking. Used by academic researchers, policymakers, and international organizations.
• E-Library and Digital Repository Electronic library system providing access to electronic journals (Web of Science, Science Direct, JSTOR, Emerald, etc.), e-books, institutional repository, and video archives catalog. Available at both Main Campus and City Office for students, faculty, and researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• BBA graduates averaging PKR 119,019/month starting salary (2025), up from PKR 102,058 in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• WTO Chairs ProgrammeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ITC at Lahore School was the only institution from Pakistan selected among 17 universities from least-developed and developing countries. The partnership aims to enhance knowledge of international trading system among academics and policymakers through research, teaching, and stakeholder engagement.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in economics and related fields
• MITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in economics and related fields
• Yale UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in economics and related fields
• Oxford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in economics and related fields
• University of WarwickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in economics and related fields
• International Growth Centre (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership funding and supporting innovation and economic growth research in Pakistan
• Private Enterprise Development in Low Income Countries (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on private enterprise development in low income countries
• National Science Foundation (US)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration and funding support
• British Academy (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration and fellowship support
• University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and faculty exchange program through MOU
• Bahcesehir University (Turkey)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and faculty exchange program through MOU
• Macquarie University (Australia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and faculty exchange program through MOU
• Jiangsu University (China)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and faculty exchange program through MOU
• Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and faculty exchange program through MOU
• Universiti Malaya (Malaysia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and faculty exchange program through MOU

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Habib University: Karachi-based private liberal-arts and sciences university with selective admissions. Comparable as a newer, well-endowed private Pakistani university competing for the same elite student segment in business and economics.
• SOAS University of London: UK university specializing in development economics, finance, and emerging-market studies with strong South Asia focus. Comparable in academic positioning around economics of developing countries and as a partner/exchange peer with shared research themes.

Broad incumbents

• COMSATS University Islamabad: Multi-campus federal university with business programs across Pakistan. Comparable in program breadth and multi-city footprint, though it serves a broader STEM-and-business mandate rather than specializing in economics and finance.
• Bahria University: Federal multi-campus university with business administration programs in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. Comparable in scale and multi-city presence, though with a broader portfolio beyond economics and finance.

Direct peers

• Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS): Pakistan's leading private business and economics university based in Lahore. Directly comparable as both a domestic competitor for top students/faculty in Lahore and as a benchmark referenced in Lahore School's own coursework (LUMS case studies are used in classes).
• Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST): Karachi-based private university offering BBA, MBA, and MS programs with a similar tuition-driven, multi-campus model. Comparable in program mix and target student segments across Pakistan's private higher education market.
• National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) - NUST Business School: Islamabad-based federal university with a leading business school offering BBA and MBA programs. Comparable in scale, accreditation standing, and competitive positioning for Pakistan's top business students.
• Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi: One of Pakistan's oldest and most prestigious business schools, located in Karachi. Directly comparable in BBA, MBA, and executive education offerings, competing for the same national pool of top students and employer relationships.

Regional players

• FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences: Pakistan's leading private computer-science university with business programs at multiple campuses. Comparable as a private, tuition-driven university competing for the same top-tier Pakistani students, particularly those interested in tech-enabled business education.
• University of the Punjab - Hailey College of Commerce: Lahore-based legacy business school under the public University of Punjab system. Comparable as a long-established Lahore institution offering BBA and MBA/M.Com programs with strong local brand recognition, though publicly funded rather than private.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lahore-school-of-economics

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lahore School of Economics