A meeting, chaired by Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, was held with the heads of private universities to discuss the procedures for awarding scholarships to students and to address various issues related to the “Honhar Scholarship Program.” During the meeting, the minister emphasized the importance of expanding educational opportunities and directed universities to hold awareness seminars about the scholarship scheme. Additionally, he instructed the Higher Education Department to allocate a special quota for minority students, ensuring inclusive access to the scholarship program.
Minister Hayat highlighted that for the first time, the private sector has been included in this scholarship initiative. He stressed that the government aims to maximize educational opportunities for the youth through a public-private partnership. The program has already expanded significantly, including 50 public universities, 7 private universities, 5 federal universities, 331 public colleges, and 14 public sector medical colleges under its umbrella. This broad inclusion is seen as a major step in increasing access to higher education for students across the province.
In discussing the program’s current status, the Education Minister revealed that 43,000 students have already logged into the program portal, over 1,100 applications have been received, and more than 178,000 students have accessed information about the scholarships. To further enhance the program, more universities will gradually be incorporated. In areas where there are no public universities, private institutions will be utilized to ensure students have access to higher education.
Minister Hayat underscored the personal involvement of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, noting that she has taken a keen interest in the program and receives regular updates on its progress. The meeting also decided that scholarships will be awarded to students from families with an annual income of less than 300,000 rupees, ensuring that the program reaches those in need.
The scholarship scheme will support 67 different academic programs. Over the next eight years, a total of 130 billion rupees has been allocated to fund the scheme, which will provide 30,000 scholarships annually. This investment underscores the government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
The heads of private universities in attendance praised the educational vision of both Punjab’s Chief Minister and Education Minister, stating that the “Honhar Scholarship Program” is not only a responsible use of tax revenues but also a more impactful initiative than previous programs, such as the laptop distribution scheme.
To ensure fairness, Minister Hayat instructed the Higher Education Department to maintain strict merit-based criteria in awarding scholarships. He concluded by saying that this scholarship program represents the fulfillment of another governmental promise, and it marks a significant milestone in advancing education for deserving students throughout the province.
