Nestled amongst the foliage of erect trees and plants pruned through years of care, the Institute of English Studies is located in the developed part of Lahore. The Institute houses a quiet space among greenery spread on its either sides where nature seems to offer a spur for creative and literary pursuits.
The University of the Punjab has been examining candidates in its affiliated colleges in MA and BA (Hons) since 1882. The teaching Department of English Language and Literature was established in 1963. Professor Siraj-ud-Din was the first Head of the Department. Since then, the department has staffed academics with strong educational and research profiles. The teaching strength ranges from Greeks to Shakespearean Studies, Victorian to Post-modern and Contemporary Critical Theory. It is currently offering BS, MA, MPhil and PhD programmes including diplomas in ELT, Linguistics and Spoken English. The graduates from this department serve the nation in different capacities. The scholars produced here get international acclaim by presenting their research at various forums.
Presently in 2021, the Department of English Language & Literature has been restructured. The status has been raised to Institute of English Studies under the visionary leadership of worthy Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar. The first Director of the Institute is Dr. Shamaila Dodhy.