Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology
Description
Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology (commonly known as QUEST), is a distinguished public research university located in Nawabshah (Shaheed Benazirabad), Sindh, Pakistan. Its origins date back to 1963, when it began as the Sindh University Engineering College in Jamshoro, established to expand access to engineering education in interior Sindh. Under an education policy shift in 1972, classes were moved to Nawabshah in early 1974, and by March 15, 1977, it had been elevated to university status as a constituent campus of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology. Later, in August 1996, it transformed into an autonomous institution—with the name Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology—through provincial legislation that granted it full university status.
Spread over approximately 457 acres along Sakrand Road near Nawabshah Airport, QUEST is organized into three academic sectors: Sector‑A houses Electrical Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Science; Sector‑B includes Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Energy & Environmental Engineering, along with Basic Sciences and Mathematics & Statistics; and Sector‑C contains workshops and laboratories for civil/mechanical engineering and related practical training. The campus is also home to a central library building situated between the multipurpose hall and hostels, along with residential housing for faculty and staff.
QUEST offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs across its faculties—Engineering, Science, Technology, and Computer Systems—including degrees in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Telecommunication, Civil, Chemical, Energy Systems, Environmental Engineering, as well as Mathematics, Physics, and English language and literature. All courses follow a semester-based Outcome-Based Education (OBE) model and are delivered in English. Postgraduate offerings include ME, MS, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programs in areas such as Construction Engineering, Power Engineering, Industrial Automation, Software Engineering, IT, Computer Science, and Mathematics.
The university currently has around 4,200 students—approximately 3,800 undergraduates, 400 postgraduate, and 30 doctoral candidates—supported by a faculty and research staff of over 585 members. QUEST is accredited by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the Pakistan Engineering Council, and is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Its research focus spans areas like clean energy, environmental engineering, AI, and industrial automation, while student life is enriched by numerous active societies, modern labs, sports complexes, Wi-Fi-enabled classrooms, and scholarship opportunities—from local merit-based awards to international schemes such as HEC‑Japanese, Saudi IEP‑SAC, MORA, Quaid‑e‑Azam, and OGDCL scholarships.
In recent years, QUEST also established a constituent campus in Larkana in 2010, which was elevated to the status of QUEST Larkana campus in 2018. However, accreditation issues have affected its operations—students and stakeholders have raised concerns about lack of accreditation from PEC, attributed to insufficient facilities and limited funding.
Overall, Quaid-e-Awam University stands as a reputable and evolving center for technical education and research, committed to delivering quality and modern engineering and science education to students from across Sindh and beyond.