Scholarship season brings out the worst of the internet. Every few days a blog claims to have the “last date”, and half of them contradict each other.
For the Honhaar Scholarship, that confusion is real, so this guide sticks to what official pages and reputable reports support, and says clearly where we could not confirm a date.
Quick Overview
- A Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) scholarship covering 100 per cent of tuition fees for eligible undergraduates.
- Applications run through the official portal at honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk.
- Merit-cum-need based, with a family income ceiling.
- A government meeting in 2026 reported that 62,949 students would receive scholarships in a single tranche.
- Status of the 2026–27 intake: conflicting reports, so verify on the portal.
What Is the Honhaar Scholarship?
It is a Chief Minister’s initiative that pays tuition for deserving students in selected disciplines at public universities, colleges and medical and dental institutions. Hostel and transport costs are generally not part of it.
When launched, over 70,000 students applied and 30,000 received awards, with 32 per cent from South Punjab, according to a report on the inauguration.
Who Is Eligible?
Criteria have varied between rounds. The government’s earlier scheme page listed:
- Punjab domicile
- Enrolled in selected disciplines at eligible public institutions
- Family monthly income below Rs300,000, supported by an affidavit on e-stamp paper
- Minimum marks: 70 per cent for sciences and 65 per cent for arts and social sciences, with higher thresholds for medical and dental colleges
A September 2025 call raised the income limit to Rs350,000 for public institutions and Rs500,000 for federal or private institutions, according to university notices. Read the current advertisement for your round.
Benefits
The scholarship pays 100 per cent tuition for the duration of the degree, subject to maintaining academic standing. Partner institutions may add their own conditions. LUMS, for instance, runs a joint LUMS–PHEC Honhaar scholarship with separate deadlines.
How to Apply
- Register on the official PHEC Honhaar portal.
- Complete your profile and academic details.
- Upload your documents, including the income affidavit.
- Submit before the deadline for your category.
- Track verification and merit list updates on the portal.
Documents Required
- CNIC or B-Form
- Punjab domicile
- Matric and Intermediate transcripts
- Admission letter or enrolment proof
- Income affidavit on e-stamp paper
- Recent semester results for continuing students
Important 2026 Status
Needs verification.
- A report said registrations opened for students with AJK domicile, with a closing date of 15 October 2026.
- Other websites give dates ranging from 28 June to 30 September 2026 for the main round. These were mostly unofficial and contradicted one another.
- Continuing-student windows (3rd to 8th semester) have run separately.
Please check the portal itself. Do not rely on the date in a social media post.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trusting an unofficial “last date”
- Uploading a missing or incorrectly stamped income affidavit
- Applying in a non-eligible discipline or institution
- Assuming last year’s marks threshold still applies
- Ignoring continuing-student renewal requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cover hostel fees?
Reports say tuition only.
Can private university students apply?
Some rounds included private or federal institutions with a higher income ceiling. Check the advertisement.
Is it only for new admissions?
No. Separate windows existed for later semesters.
Is there a laptop too?
A separate scheme exists. See the Punjab laptop scheme guide.
What about digital skills?
Students can also look at the Google Career Certificates programme.
Final Takeaway
The Honhaar Scholarship is among the most valuable education schemes in Punjab. Because the dates are disputed, the portal is your only reliable calendar.
This is an independent informational guide and is not an official government website.
