The Lodhran University Movement is actively working towards the establishment of a university in Lodhran, aiming to provide quality higher education opportunities to the students of District Lodhran. Inspired by the successful models of the
Islamia University Bahawalpur and Bahauddin Zakariya University,Multan the movement is advocating for the creation of the
Lodhran University with campuses in every tehsil of the district.
History and Key Milestones
The Lodhran University Movement was founded by
Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Malik on 17th September 2015. After a determined 40-day effort, on
6th November 2015, the then
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, announced the establishment of a university in Lodhran during a historical public gathering.
In the
second phase of the movement
(January–March 2017), resolutions for the establishment of Lodhran University were submitted to government institutions by civil society organizations. As a result, the
Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif issued a directive on 15th July 2017 to establish a
BZU Sub-Campus in Lodhran. The Government of Pakistan has approved the PC-1 (2018–2024) for BZU Sub-Campus Lodhran as leading to university, presented by the
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, Islamabad. Through the efforts of Federal Minister of State
Abdul Rehman Kanju at the national level and
Mian Rajan Sultan Pirzada, Chairman of the District Council Lodhran, at the local level, classes at the BZU Lodhran Sub-Campus officially began in
March 2018 under the leadership of Professor Hukumat Ali.
Third Phase and Current Progress
In January 2025, the Lodhran University Movement entered its third phase under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Malik. Civil society organizations and influential figures have voiced strong demands for the university’s establishment on social media and through official resolutions. The movement is now urging the Punjab Government, particularly the
Chief Minister of Punjab, Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, to approve the university through a formal act in the Punjab Assembly.
Recognizing the remarkable one-year performance and services of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Malik, after extensive consultations, proposed naming the university as the"Maryam Nawaz University of Lodhran".
Legislation and Land Allocation
Legislation for the university’s establishment is seen as a critical and foundational step. A committee comprising
Professor Dr. Aslam Adib (Pro-Rector, NCBA University Bahawalpur), Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Malik, (Founder, Lodhran University Movement) and other academic experts began working on the draft of the Lodhran University Act on 21st January 2025. After carefully considering future educational needs, the draft was completed by end of February 2025 and officially presented to the press on 28th February 2025.
The draft of the Maryam Nawaz University of Lodhran Act has been submitted to the Punjab Government, Political Leaders, Punjab Assembly representatives, and administrative authorities for approval. Additionally,245 acres of land have been allocated in Chak 99M, Lodhran and the file has been forwarded to the Board of Revenue Punjab for final approval.
Furthermore, a PKR 1.18 billion project for the university’s building has been submitted to the Punjab Government through theHigher Education Department for inclusion in the 2025–2026 Annual Development Plan.
Future Outlook
The Lodhran University Movement remains committed to ensuring that Lodhran University becomes a reality, providing top-tier educational facilities to the students of Lodhran. The support of the Punjab Government, local political leaders, and civil society will be key to transforming this vision into reality.
For more updates on the movement’s progress, visit the official
Lodhran University Movement Facebook page.