The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of its first meeting of its senate on October 14, 1882 at Shimla. It was the fourth University to be established by the British Colonial Authorities on the Indian Subcontinent. The first three universities were establish by the British rulers at their initial strongholds of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. The University of the Punjab came into existence as a result of long drawn struggle of the people of the Punjab after the war of independence in 1857. Contrary to the three previously established universities, which were only examining institutions, the University of the Punjab was both teaching as well as examining body right form the beginning.

University of the Punjab is located in the Historical and Culturally active city of Lahore. At present various on-campus teaching and research programs of the University are organized under fifty institutes, departments, constituent colleges or centers, which run over one hundred degree, diploma or certificate programs. Research leading to PhD degree is an integral part of the academic programs in many disciplines. New academic programs have been introduced recently according to the current requirements. This has gradually expanded the academic activity of the University.

It is commendable that the University of the Punjab has created a modern infrastructure to make it possible for students to update their knowledge in various scientific disciplines since modern technology has become an essential vehicle of rapid progress. At the same time, the University has been quite successful in maintaining a balance between modern trends in education and its old traditions. As Chancellor, I am confident that efforts to excel in the field of higher education and the inculcation of moral values in the students at the University Campus will continue in future with a greater zeal.

In order to build National capability in the, new bioscience, University of the Punjab established a nucleus Centre for Advanced studies in Molecular Biology. In 1986, the Ministry of Education upgraded the University Centre into a National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology. In April 1987, the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) approved the establishment of a Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), located back to back with the laboratory block of the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB). The twin component Molecular Biology Laboratory Complex is spread over 60 acres of land, with a covered area of 7000 square meters including a Laboratory Block, a Teaching Block and a Hostel for Ph.D. Research Scholars. The Laboratory Block is divided into four separate research units comprising a total of 20 Research Labs and four Conference Rooms; one Production Unit ,and one Support Facilities Unit comprising a Lab-aid Section (for washing, autoclaving and media preparation), an Animal House, an Insectary, six large Plant Growth Rooms, and storage space for research materials. The Teaching Block consists of a well equipped Library, Seminar Hall, Photocopy, Photography, Computer Rooms, a Conference Hall, Director's Office and Administration and Accounts section. There is a self-service canteen, a dining hall and 11 rooms in the research scholars hostel.