The CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship, explained
What the programme is
The Chief Minister’s Honhaar Scholarship Programme is a Government of Punjab (Pakistan) initiative that pays tuition fees for talented students from lower- and middle-income families at selected universities and colleges. Recent official announcements describe it as one of the province’s largest student-aid programmes, with support reported for around 160,000 students across roughly 70 disciplines by late 2026.
Who it is generally for
Criteria are set by the government and can change each phase, but recent cycles have broadly required:
- Punjab domicile;
- enrolment in an eligible discipline at a participating institution (public universities and colleges, public medical and dental colleges, HED colleges, and selected federal and private institutions);
- family income below a ceiling set for each category of institution;
- meeting minimum academic marks, with selection weighted by merit;
- not already receiving another scholarship (in several phases).
Recent phases have covered both first-semester/first-year students and those already studying at eligible public institutions, with different academic and income requirements for each group. Read the current phase’s official notice for exact figures.
How to apply (official route only)
- Open the official portal yourself by typing the address — don’t use links from WhatsApp forwards.
- Register or log in, and select the correct category for your year of study.
- Fill academic, institution and family details exactly as on your documents.
- Upload required documents, which in past phases included a family-income affidavit on e-stamp paper.
- Submit before the deadline. For the phase opened in October 2026, official announcements reported a closing date of 9 November 2026 — confirm on the portal, as dates can be extended.
- Keep checking the portal and your university’s scholarship office for merit lists and verification.
Avoid scams
- Applying is free. Anyone asking for a fee, an “agent charge” or your bank PIN is a fraudster.
- Government portals in Pakistan use .gov.pk addresses. Check the address bar carefully.
- Questions should go to the official helpline or email listed on the portal, or to your institution’s financial-aid office.
Other options if you are not eligible
If you don’t meet the domicile, institution or income rules, explore HEC need-based scholarships, PEEF scholarships and international awards in our Pakistan filter, or request a free personal match.
This explainer summarises publicly reported information in our own words for general guidance. The official notification on the Punjab HEC portal always takes precedence.