The University of Punjab established in 1882.

The University of the Punjab is a public research university located in the downtown Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the oldest public university in Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was given its initial impetus by Wood's dispatch in 1854. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner was the founder of the university. The university was formally established by the British Government in 1882.

The Punjab University was the fourth university to be established by the British colonial authorities in the Indian subcontinent; the first three universities, The University of Calcutta established in 1857, The University of Mumbai established in 1857, The University of Madras established in 1857, were established in other parts of British India.

Contrary to the three previously established universities, which were only examining institutions, the University of the Punjab was both teachings as well as examining body right from the beginning.

From its formation in 1882 until 1947, the University of the Punjab served the educational needs of the entire region of pre-independence Punjab and northern India. Mohindra College, Patiala was the first college of higher learning to affiliate with the University of Punjab in 1882; followed by St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

The independence of Pakistan in 1947 reduced the geographical jurisdiction of the university, as it was split into two separate universities in the respective countries. The Indian portion of the university is referred to as Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. The current Institute of Administrative Sciences was created in 1962.

Approximately 30,000 enrolled students are currently attending the university, the Punjab University has a total of 13 faculties of which there are 63 academic departments, research centers, and institutes. The Punjab University has ranked first amongst large-sized multiple faculty universities by the HEC in 2012.

Many major institutions that were previously affiliated with Punjab University have now become independent universities on their own, such as Government College University, Lahore and Medical and Engineering Colleges.