The Chief Minister Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship is a significant initiative by the Government of Punjab, designed to provide merit-based financial assistance to talented students facing financial constraints. The program, managed by the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and sponsored by the Higher Education Department, aims to empower high-achieving individuals by removing financial barriers to quality education. This scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees, allowing students to focus entirely on their academic pursuits without the burden of financial stress.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the CM Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria designed to ensure the scholarships are awarded to deserving students. The applicant must have a domicile from any district of Punjab. However, students from other provinces are also eligible to apply if they are enrolled in selected institutions under specific phases of the program. A key requirement is that the monthly family income of the applicant must not exceed Rs. 300,000. An affidavit proving this financial need is a mandatory part of the application. The academic requirements vary depending on the institution and discipline. For public sector universities and colleges, a minimum of 70% marks or an equivalent CGPA for science disciplines and 65% for arts disciplines is required. Medical and dental students need at least 60% in their annual exams. The scholarship is open to students from the 3rd to 8th semesters of various BS programs and 2nd to 5th years of MBBS and BDS programs. Applicants must not be receiving any other merit- or need-based scholarship.
Application Process
The application process for the CM Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship is conducted entirely online through the official PHEC portal. The first step is to visit the designated website and create an account using a valid CNIC, email address, and mobile number. After registration, the applicant must log in and fill out the online application form, providing accurate personal, educational, and socio-economic details. The next crucial step is to upload clear, scanned copies of all the required documents. These documents include the applicant’s CNIC or Form-B, the parent’s or guardian’s CNIC, matriculation and intermediate result cards, a university admission letter or a bona fide certificate, the Punjab domicile certificate (or equivalent for students from other provinces), and a family income certificate along with the financial need affidavit. Applicants must carefully review all the information before submission, as no changes are permitted after the application is finalized.
Scholarship Coverage and Phases
The scholarship provides full tuition fee coverage, making higher education accessible to students from all backgrounds. The program is implemented in various phases to ensure a broad distribution of scholarships. Each phase targets a specific group of students. The total approved cost for the program is Rs. 5,868.05 million. The distribution of scholarships is planned as follows:
Scholarship Distribution
| Phase | Eligible Students | Number of Scholarships |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Newly enrolled first-semester students in public universities and selected private/federal chartered institutions. | 30,000 |
| Phase II | Students in the 3rd to 8th semester of BS programs and 2nd to 5th year of MBBS/BDS programs in public sector universities and colleges. | 20,000 |
| Phase III | Students from other provinces. | 5,000 |
Project Overview
The CM Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship is an ambitious project with a clear goal of fostering academic excellence and providing equal opportunities. The Higher Education Department acts as the sponsoring body, while the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) is the implementing agency responsible for the program’s execution and management. Initially, a budget of Rs. 2,500.00 million was allocated, which was later revised to the approved total cost of Rs. 5,868.05 million to accommodate the large number of scholarships. The successful implementation of this program is a testament to the government’s commitment to investing in the nation’s youth and their educational future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is the scholarship limited to students from Punjab? The scholarship is primarily for Punjab domicile holders. However, Phase III of the program provides scholarships to students from other provinces who are enrolled in specific educational institutions.
- Can I apply if I am already receiving another scholarship? No, applicants must not be receiving any other merit- or need-based scholarship to be eligible for the CM Honhaar scholarship.
- What is the minimum academic requirement for the scholarship? The minimum academic requirement varies. It is 70% for science disciplines and 65% for arts in public universities, and 60% for medical and dental students.
- What documents are required for the application? You need to upload scanned copies of your CNIC/Form-B, parents’/guardians’ CNIC, matric and intermediate result cards, domicile certificate, and a family income affidavit.
- Is there an application fee? No, the application process for the CM Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship is completely free of charge.
- How will I be notified if I am selected? Selected candidates will be informed via email and SMS. Additionally, the list of successful applicants will be posted on the official scholarship website.
- Can I submit a hard copy of my application? No, all applications must be submitted online through the official portal. No hard copies are required.
