NED University: From Sukkur Barrage to an engineering legacy

In this report, Nukta’s senior correspondent Faisal Khan traces the origins of NED University, a prestigious institution born out of one of British India’s most ambitious engineering projects.

In 1921, facing a shortage of civil engineers during the construction of the Sukkur (Lloyd) Barrage, British authorities established the Prince of Wales Engineering College in Karachi.

It was later renamed after philanthropist Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw and became NED University. The institution grew steadily and was granted university status in 1977.

When officials attempted to rebrand it as UET, students resisted, and the NED name continued. Like many public universities, NED faced financial challenges in later years.

However, its alumni stepped in to help restore stability and preserve the legacy of the institution. This is the untold story of how NED was built and how its community helped it survive.