The Department of Zoology, GC University Lahore is the oldest seat of learning and imparting knowledge of Zoology at the undergraduate and postgraduate level in Pakistan. The postgraduate programme at the department was launched in 1908. In addition, it was the first centre to start teaching Zoology in this part of the Subcontinent until 1920 when the University of the Punjab established its Department of Zoology. The same department of the University of the Punjab was also housed in the building of the Department of Zoology at the then Government College Lahore and continued functioning here till 1963. During these years, the Zoology faculties of Government College Lahore and the University of the Punjab jointly managed the Postgraduate Programme. In 1963, the Department of Zoology initiated its independent MSc Zoology Programme as a result of the untiring efforts of Dr. Nazir Ahmad (who was the Principal, Government College Lahore), Prof. Naseer-ud-Din Ahmad (Professor and Chairperson, Department of Zoology) and Dr. Ahsan ul Islam (Professor of Zoology). After attaining the status of an autonomous institution in 1997, and that of a University in 2002, curricula were upgraded and modernized in accordance with international standards.
