LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the expansion of the “Honhaar Scholarships Scheme” to other provinces.
The initiative was discussed during the meeting on Thursday, where Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved the same eligibility criteria, as implemented in Punjab, for students from other provinces.
Presiding over the meeting, the Punjab CM also increased the number of laptops for the students in Punjab to 110,000, along with setting a minimum eligibility criteria of 65% marks to get a laptop.
Maryam Nawaz also gave the go-ahead for the Honhaar Scholarship for the students of the second, third, and fourth semesters in Punjab.
According to the statement, the chief minister directed concerned authorities to form a special helpline for the students of the Honhaar Scholarship and laptop schemes.
Speaking during the meeting, CM Maryam said the Honhaar Scholarship and Laptop schemes are the right of every child and the responsibility of the government.
She noted that students from other provinces including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “are also our children”.
“Every child who comes on merit should apply to obtain an education at a quality institution, the government will pay his fee.”
CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarships
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz launched the Honhaar Scholarships program in December 2024, under which the government will cover the educational expenses for 30,000 students annually for four years from all around Punjab.
Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said that the scholarship program, worth Rs 130 billion, will help fulfill the dreams of 30,000 youth every year.
According to the details, more than 68,000 students from 65 universities, 359 colleges, and 12 medical colleges have applied for the Chief Minister Honhar Scholarship Program.
Eligibility Criteria for Honhaar Scholarship
To apply for the scholarship, students must meet the following requirements:
- Must have a domicile from any district in Punjab
- Age should not exceed 22 years by the closing date
- Must be enrolled in selected disciplines at eligible universities or colleges for the fall session of 2024. Newly enrolled MBBS and BDS students for 2024 are also eligible.
- Family monthly income should be less than Rs 300,000 (Affidavit required)
The minimum percentage for medical college students has been set at 80 or above. For top universities, the minimum requirement is 80 pc, while for public sector universities, 75 pc for science and 70 pc for arts and social sciences.
