LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the Honhaar Scholarship Scheme for students of other provinces, ensuring they receive the same eligibility criteria as those in Punjab.
Presiding over a special meeting on higher education on Thursday, the chief minister made several key decisions, including an increase in the number of laptops distributed in Punjab to 110,000. She formally approved the Honhaar Scholarship Scheme for students in their second, third, and fourth semesters and directed the establishment of a special helpline for scholarship and laptop scheme beneficiaries.
The meeting also decided to set a minimum eligibility criteria of 65% marks for students in Punjab to qualify for a laptop.
Speaking at the meeting, the CM said, “The Honhaar Scholarship and Laptop Schemes are the right of every child and a responsibility of the government. Education and youth development are the real investments for national progress, and I want to see every child with a laptop. Students from other provinces also have the same right to these scholarships.”
She said, “Students from Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also our children. Every meritorious student should have access to quality education, and the government will cover their tuition fees.”
The chief minister assured that the eligibility criteria for Honhaar Scholarships in Punjab will remain the same for students from other provinces, and no financial constraints will be allowed to hinder student welfare programs.
The meeting also approved the holding of a one-day Vice Chancellors’ Conference and a Tech Expo in Punjab.
