Gandhara University, the only institution in the private sector, has been given the membership by the Association of Universities in Asia and the Pacific (AUAP).
At present the AUAP has 217 regular members from 20 countries of the world with six associate members consisting of regional organisations based in four countries, said a release of the Gandhara varsity here on Tuesday.
The membership of the association stretches from Australia to South Asian countries including Japan, South Korea up to United Kingdom and USA, it added.
The objectives of the AUAP aimed at provision of quality higher education through students and faculty exchanges as well as sharing of information and other resources strengthening of institutional capacity.
The association also cement co-operation with other international organisations such as the IAU, Unesco, ASAIHL and SEAMO, in promoting national higher education institutions and implementing programmes to assist in the development of member institutions.