For many families in Punjab, university fees are the biggest barrier to higher education. The Chief Minister’s Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Program was created to remove that barrier for talented students. This guide explains the benefits, who can apply, what you need, and how to apply step by step.
Official apply link: https://honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk/
What Is the Honhaar Scholarship?
The Honhaar Scholarship is Punjab’s flagship undergraduate scholarship scheme. It is offered and managed by the Punjab government’s Higher Education Department. The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) runs the online portal and the selection process.
“Honhaar” means talented or promising, and the scheme is built around that idea. It rewards students who have worked hard but come from families that cannot easily afford tuition. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that 80,000 young people have benefited so far: 50,000 already receiving scholarships and 30,000 more on the way. The programme covers 67 “future-proof” disciplines.
What Do You Get?
The main benefit is full tuition coverage. The scholarship covers 100% of the tuition fee. That can take away the single largest expense of a degree.
A few other points help:
- Wide reach: Awards go to roughly 30,000 undergraduate students in each cycle, so the number of seats is large.
- Merit-based selection: Awards depend on your academic record and family income, not on connections.
- Online process: No hard copy is needed. Applications are submitted online only.
- Continuing support: Existing awardees can renew each semester, provided they meet the performance requirements.
Who Is Eligible?
Criteria can change slightly from one cycle to the next, so always check the current notice on the portal. Recent cycles have used these requirements.
1. Punjab domicile. Applicants must hold a domicile from any district of Punjab. Separately, PHEC has opened registration for students with Azad Jammu and Kashmir domicile enrolled in selected programmes.
2. Family income limit. Family monthly income must be below Rs. 300,000. Some universities have published a higher limit for particular cycles. For example, GCUF’s 2025-26 notice mentioned Rs. 350,000. Check the figure in the notice for your cycle. An affidavit confirming income is required, and a sample can be downloaded from the PHEC portal. HONHAAR Scholarships: CM Punjab announces launch of new cycle, how to register? +2
3. Academic requirements. For new students, the minimum FSc/Intermediate score was 70% for science students and 65% for Arts and Social Sciences students. Merit weightage was 30% for Matric and 70% for Intermediate. For continuing students, the requirement was a CGPA equivalent to 70% for sciences and 65% for arts, social sciences and other categories.
4. Eligible programme and institution. You must be enrolled in a selected discipline at an approved institution. A programme that is not on the list is not eligible, however good your grades are.
5. No overlapping scholarship. You should not already be receiving a similar fully funded merit-based or need-based scholarship.
6. No age or gender restriction. The scheme has no age limit and is open to both genders.
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Documents to Keep Ready
Collecting your documents before you start will save time. Typical requirements include:
- CNIC or B-Form
- Valid mobile number and email address (registration requires a valid CNIC, mobile number and email)
- Matric and Intermediate result cards
- University admission or enrolment proof, plus semester result cards for continuing students
- Domicile certificate
- Income affidavit on the PHEC sample format
- Recent passport-size photograph with a plain background
- Utility bills or other income evidence, if the form asks for them
Scan everything clearly and check that each file meets the portal’s size and format limits.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Open the official portal. Go to https://honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk/. Avoid third-party sites that ask for payment. The application is free.
Step 2: Create your account. Register with your CNIC, mobile number and email address. Use details you can access, because verification messages and updates will be sent there.
Step 3: Log in and complete the form. Fill in your personal information, academic record, family details and income information. Enter every detail exactly as it appears on your documents.
Step 4: Choose your institution and programme. Select your university and degree from the list. If it does not appear, it is likely not eligible in this cycle.
Step 5: Upload your documents. Attach the scanned files, including your signed or stamped affidavit.
Step 6: Review and submit. Read the form once more before submitting. Save or screenshot the confirmation and your application number.
Step 7: Track your status. Log in regularly to see whether your application is under review, verified, shortlisted or has any objections to fix. Then watch the merit lists published by PHEC and your university.
See also the 100% tuition-fee CM Honhar Scholarship 2026.
Deadlines: What to Know
Deadlines change from cycle to cycle, and this is where applicants most often slip up. In the last cycle, the Chief Minister extended the deadline to October 26, 2025, after floods disrupted education across several districts. propakistani
For the current 2026 cycle, I could not confirm one fixed date for Punjab-domicile students. Some third-party guides give an expected deadline of mid-September, but that is an estimate based on earlier years. For AJK-domicile students, one listing shows a deadline of 15 October 2026. Confirm the date on the official portal or your university’s financial aid office, and apply well before it. eduvision
Tips to Strengthen Your Application
Apply early. Portals tend to slow down near deadlines. Early applicants have more time to correct problems.
Make sure your income documents are consistent. Mismatched figures are a common reason for objections. The affidavit, the form and any supporting papers should agree.
Use clear scans. Blurry or cropped uploads can delay verification.
Keep your contact details active. If PHEC or your university needs a correction, a missed call or email can cost you your seat.
Contact your university’s scholarship office. Many universities have a dedicated financial aid office that guides students through the process. If you are stuck, you can contact your university’s scholarship office or the PHEC helpline. scholarshipcorner
Do not pay anyone. No agent or website can guarantee selection. The portal is the only official channel.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying before checking whether your degree is on the eligible list.
- Entering a family income that does not match the affidavit.
- Skipping the final review before submission.
- Ignoring objections raised after verification.
- Forgetting to renew in later semesters. Continuing students must maintain their CGPA and complete the renewal process to keep the award.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Honhaar Scholarship only for public universities?
Eligibility depends on the institutions and programmes approved for each cycle. The list can include public universities, colleges and selected private institutions, so check your institution against the current notice.
Can students outside Punjab apply?
Generally the scheme is for Punjab domicile holders. A separate window has opened for AJK students, as noted above.
Does the scholarship cover hostel or living expenses?
It is described as covering tuition. Check the current notice to see whether any other costs are included.
What if my application is rejected?
Check the reason on your portal dashboard. If it is a documentation issue, fix it if the portal allows. You can also ask your university’s scholarship office for help.
Final Thoughts
The CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship is one of the largest education support programmes in Pakistan, and it can make the difference between dropping out and finishing a degree. If you are a Punjab student with strong grades and a modest family income, it is worth applying. Prepare your documents, read the current notice carefully and apply before the deadline.
Apply here: https://honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk/
Eligibility rules, income limits and deadlines can change between cycles. Confirm the details on the official PHEC portal before applying.