# CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship: who qualifies, amount and how to apply

URL: https://which.pk/money/guides/honhaar-scholarship/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 19 Oct 2026

## Summary

The CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship pays the tuition fee of Punjab-domicile students in BS, MBBS and BDS programmes at public universities, colleges and selected private ones. It aims at 30,000 scholarships a year. In the 2025-26 round you needed a family income below Rs 350,000 a month, 70% in intermediate for science or 65% for arts, and merit was 30% matric and 70% intermediate. As of 19 Oct 2026 we found no official notice of a new Punjab intake; scholarships for earlier applicants are being handed out.

## Key facts

- Covers: Tuition fee, paid to the institution
- Income limit: Under Rs 350,000 a month (public)
- Scholarships: 30,000 a year
- Helpline: 042-99231903

The CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship pays the **full tuition fee** of Punjab-domicile students in BS, MBBS and BDS programmes, and plans **30,000 scholarships a year**. In the 2025-26 round you needed a family income **below Rs 350,000 a month** and at least **70% in intermediate** (science) or 65% (arts). You apply online on the PHEC portal. As of 19 October 2026 we found **no official notice of a new Punjab intake**.

**Is it open?** Not for Punjab students, as far as we could find. A round for AJK-domicile students closed on 15 October 2026. Scholarships for students already selected were handed out in Sahiwal on 17 October 2026.

**Honhaar Scholarship:** Tuition fee, paid to your institution (30,000 a year in 68 disciplines. Higher Education Department, Government of the Punjab, as of 19 Oct 2026)

## What is the Honhaar scholarship amount?

There's **no fixed cash amount**. The scholarship pays your **tuition fee directly to your university or college**, so you get whatever your programme charges. The portal's FAQ, as quoted by Pakera, says boarding, lodging and transport aren't covered, and no cash stipend is paid. Dawn's December 2024 report said the scheme covers 100% of educational expenses; we follow the portal FAQ, which is more specific.

The Higher Education Department plans **Rs 130 billion** in scholarships over eight years. It expects 120,000 students to benefit in the first four years.

## Who is eligible for the Honhaar scholarship?

These were the rules for the 2025-26 undergraduate round, from Government College University Faisalabad's notice and university notices quoted by Pakera:

| Rule | 2025-26 round |
|---|---|
| Domicile | Punjab |
| Programme | First semester or first year of a selected BS, MBBS or BDS programme |
| Intermediate marks | 70% science, 65% arts and social sciences |
| Family income | Under Rs 350,000 a month (public institutions); under Rs 500,000 (federal or private) |
| Age | No limit |
| Other aid | Not if you already get another government scholarship or fee waiver |

Medical and dental colleges set a higher bar of 80%, and HED colleges a lower one (65% science, 60% arts), Pakera reports from the FAQ. **60% of scholarships are reserved for female students**, Dawn reported when the scheme's second phase started in December 2024.

**Earlier rounds had stricter rules:** In December 2024 the scheme was for students under 22 with parental income below Rs 300,000 a month, Dawn reported. The 2025-26 round dropped the age limit and raised the income limit to Rs 350,000. A new round may change the rules again, so check the portal's notice when it opens.

## How is Honhaar scholarship merit calculated?

In the 2025-26 round, merit was **30% of your matric marks and 70% of your intermediate marks**. For example, 80% in matric and 75% in intermediate gives a merit score of 76.5 (0.3 × 80 + 0.7 × 75).

We found no published closing merit for 2025 from an official source.

## How do you apply, and what documents do you need?

You need:

- **CNIC** (front and back).
- **Matric and intermediate certificates.**
- **Punjab domicile.**
- **Income affidavit** on e-stamp paper.

Applications are **online only**, with no hard copy, GCUF's notice said. There's no application fee. For help, call the PHEC helpline on **042-99231903** or email honhaar@punjabhec.gov.pk.

## How do you keep the scholarship?

The award runs for the length of your degree if you keep your grades up. The portal's terms, as quoted by Pakera, require a **GPA of 2.50 each semester** and a **CGPA of 3.00**, or 60% in annual exams. Changing university cancels the award.

## Is there a new Honhaar scholarship phase in 2026?

Phase I covered first-semester students. **Phase II** gave 20,000 scholarships to students in semesters three to eight, The Nation reported in May 2025. On 18 October 2026 Punjab's Information Minister said the second phase of the laptop and scholarship schemes had been launched. The reports we found describe awards for students already selected, and none announces a new application round.

When Pakera checked the portal on 25 September 2026, the registration form offered only AJK. The "30 September" last date still shown online was 2025's. We couldn't open the portal ourselves on 19 October 2026.

Punjab students may also qualify for a free laptop: see the [CM Punjab laptop scheme](/money/guides/pm-laptop-scheme/). For school-age children of BISP families, see [Benazir Taleemi Wazaif](/money/guides/benazir-taleemi-wazaif/).

**More guides:** [PM and CM Punjab laptop schemes](/money/guides/pm-laptop-scheme/) · [CM Punjab electric bike scheme](/money/guides/cm-punjab-electric-bike-scheme/) · [Benazir Taleemi Wazaif](/money/guides/benazir-taleemi-wazaif/) · [Loans & Support](/money/loans/)

## Questions people ask

### What is the Honhaar scholarship amount?

There's no fixed cash amount. The scholarship pays your tuition fee directly to the university or college, so the amount is whatever your programme charges. Hostel and transport aren't covered.

### Is the Honhaar scholarship open for 2026?

As of 19 Oct 2026 we found no official notice of a new Punjab intake. In late September 2026 the portal was taking applications only from AJK students.

### What documents are needed for the Honhaar scholarship?

Your CNIC, matric and intermediate certificates, Punjab domicile and an income affidavit on e-stamp paper, uploaded on the PHEC portal.

### How is Honhaar scholarship merit calculated?

In the 2025-26 round, merit was 30% of your matric marks and 70% of your intermediate marks.

## Sources

- [Honhaar Scholarship Program](https://hed.punjab.gov.pk/node/1674), Higher Education Department, Government of the Punjab (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Chief Minister's Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Program 2025-26 (1 Sep 2025)](https://gcuf.edu.pk/2025/09/01/honhaar-undergraduate-scholarship-25-26/), Government College University Faisalabad (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Maryam launches Honhaar Scholarship Programme's second phase (24 Dec 2024)](https://www.dawn.com/news/1880616), Dawn (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [CM Maryam revives laptop scheme after 8 years (1 May 2025)](https://www.nation.com.pk/01-May-2025/cm-maryam-revives-laptop-scheme-after-8-years), The Nation (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Honhaar Scholarship 2026 Punjab: last date and how to apply (checked 25 Sep 2026)](https://pakera.pk/honhaar-scholarship-2026-apply-online/), Pakera (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Honhaar Scholarship opens for AJK students 2026](https://www.eduvision.edu.pk/scholarships/honhaar-scholarship-opens-for-ajk-students-scholar-758), Eduvision (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Maryam says Punjab enters AI era, awards scholarships, laptops to students (17 Oct 2026)](https://pakobserver.net/maryam-says-punjab-enters-ai-era-awards-scholarships-laptops-to-students), Pakistan Observer (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [CM Punjab launches second phase of laptop, scholarship schemes (18 Oct 2026)](https://www.nation.com.pk/18-Oct-2026/cm-punjab-launches-second-phase-laptop-scholarship-schemes), The Nation (accessed 19 Oct 2026)