Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the much-anticipated ‘Honhaar Scholarship Program’ on Wednesday, aiming to provide high-quality education to deserving students across the province. The launch event, held at Punjab University, saw the CM distributing checks to successful scholarship recipients and unveiling an e-portal to streamline the application process.
The Honhaar Scholarship Program, valued at a remarkable Rs. 130 billion, will provide scholarships to 30,000 students annually, supporting their higher education journey. In her speech, CM Maryam Nawaz revealed that over 70,000 students had applied for the scholarship, with 30,000 selected for this year’s program. Notably, 32 percent of the recipients are from South Punjab, and 18,000 female students have successfully secured scholarships.
The scholarship initiative covers 68 districts and targets students in 65 universities, 359 colleges, and 12 medical colleges. It aims to support students pursuing undergraduate degrees in various disciplines, with an emphasis on ensuring inclusivity across all regions of Punjab. Of the selected candidates, 50 students from public sector universities and 131 graduates in 16 major fields have been awarded scholarships.
The program’s eligibility criteria include:
- Domicile from any district of Punjab.
- Age not exceeding 22 years on the application deadline.
- Family monthly income less than Rs. 300,000 (affidavit required).
- Enrollment in selected disciplines at universities or colleges for the Fall session of 2024.
- Minimum required marks:
- Medical colleges: 80% or higher.
- Top universities: 80% or higher.
- Public sector universities: 75% for Science and 70% for Arts/Social Sciences.
- HED colleges: 65% for Science and 60% for Arts/Social Sciences.
The program will cover 100% of the tuition fees for selected students.
How to Apply:
To apply for the Honhaar Scholarship Program, follow these steps:
- Visit the official Honhaar Scholarship Portal at https://honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk/.
- Click on the Login button located on the right side of the portal.
- Sign in or register as a new user to begin the application process.
The launch of this e-portal aims to simplify the application and disbursement processes, ensuring transparency and accessibility for students. With this initiative, CM Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her commitment to providing educational opportunities for youth, enabling them to pursue their dreams without financial constraints.
This program is poised to significantly impact Punjab’s education sector, empowering the youth and promoting educational excellence across the region.
