Forty-five researchers from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) have earned places among the world’s top 2% scientists for 2026. The university announced the recognition under the widely cited Stanford-Elsevier rankings.
Sixteen NUST researchers have appeared in the rankings over successive years. The university described their repeated inclusion as evidence of sustained scholarly influence and a long-term commitment to advancing knowledge across disciplines.
NUST said the distinction placed its researchers alongside international scholars whose work contributes to scientific progress across diverse fields.
Rector Dr Muhammad Zahid Latif congratulated the researchers and linked their achievement to Pakistan’s growing visibility in the international research community.
“Extending his heartiest felicitations to the distinguished researchers, Rector Nust Dr Muhammad Zahid Latif remarked that the meritorious accomplishment of our truly erudite faculty and researchers has brought immense pride to Nust and the nation, and exemplifies the calibre of scholarship that continues to elevate Pakistan’s standing in the international research community,” read the press release.
The rector also highlighted NUST’s commitment to intellectual leadership, scientific inquiry and solutions to complex real-world challenges.
The researchers named in the announcement include Dr Miraj Mustafa, Dr Mubasher Jamil, Dr Rafia Mumtaz and Dr Haider Abbas. Other recognised academics include Dr Tayyaba Noor, Dr Muhammad Usman Akram, Dr Safia Akram and Dr Iftikhar Hussain Gul.
The list also features Dr Alvina Gul, Dr Lubna Yaqoob, Dr Muhammad Moazam Fraz and Dr Syed Ali Hassan.
The recognition follows earlier appearances by NUST scholars in the same database. The university reported 47 researchers in the 2025 edition and 43 in 2024.
Researchers from several other Pakistani universities also feature in the latest lists, extending the country’s representation beyond NUST.
The database offers a more specific measure than a general university ranking. It assesses researchers through standardised citation indicators, which track how other scholarly publications reference their work.
The 2026 update appeared in the Elsevier Data Repository on October 7. It uses Scopus author profiles from an August 1, 2026 snapshot.
Its career-long assessment covers citations through the end of 2025. A separate single-year assessment examines citations received during 2025.
The database groups scientists into 20 scientific fields and 174 subfields. Its composite indicator, known as the c-score, combines citation measures with information about co-authorship and authorship positions.
Researchers qualify through a top-100,000 position under the composite score or placement within the top 2% of their subfield. The calculations consider results both with and without self-citations.
The methodology focuses on citation impact rather than the number of publications alone. Its documentation also cautions against treating inclusion as absolute proof of scientific excellence.
For NUST, the announcement recognises both the current cohort of 45 researchers and the continuing presence of 16 scholars across successive editions.
