Ziauddin University (ZU) is a private, Higher Education Commission (HEC)-recognized institution located in Karachi, Pakistan. Established in 1986 as the School of Nursing, it has since evolved into a multidisciplinary university offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The university was granted its charter as Ziauddin University in 2005 under the Ziauddin University (Amendment) Act 2003 .