Launches phase-II of Honahar Scholarship Programme; Announces to set up Education City in Lahore; Students to get electric bikes
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz slammed PTI for bringing “indecent practices” into politics, saying “one who levels allegations cannot be your sympathizer”.
The chief minister said “Hurling abuses, misbehaviour and coming to blows are not part of our civilization.” She said “We went to jail, faced courts but we never crossed limits. Their children are resting at home but others’ kids are languishing in prisons.”
Speaking at a ceremony held in Islamabad at FAST National University of Computer and Engineering Sciences, Maryam on Monday announced the establishment of an education city in Lahore, aimed at attracting top global universities to set up campuses.
This ambitious initiative is part of her broader vision to enhance educational opportunities in the province and foster international collaborations.
Maryam Nawaz also inaugurated Phase-II of Pakistan’s largest educational initiative, the “Honahar Scholarship Program”, covering expenses of 30,000 students annually and 120,000 students over the next four years, marking a historic step in the country’s educational landscape. Speaking at a ceremony held in Islamabad at FAST National University of Computer and Engineering Sciences, she stated, “Under this programme, talented students can pursue higher education at top Pakistani institutions without financial worries. The Punjab government will cover 100% of the educational expenses for qualified students.”
The program benefits students from “65 universities, 12 medical and dental colleges, and 359 colleges in Punjab”, covering 68 disciplines. Students under 22 years of age with a Punjab domicile and a parental income below Rs. 300,000 per month are eligible to apply.
To ensure transparency, all applications were processed through an online portal. A multi-tiered scrutiny process involving institutional, provincial, and steering committees—led by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb — oversees the programme.
Highlighting the initiative’s scope, Maryam Nawaz noted, “Scholarships have already been awarded to 2,473 students at the University of Punjab. Today, 2,570 students from Rawalpindi Division are being awarded scholarships at this ceremony.”
She further shared that “1,886 students from UET Lahore” have benefited, she added, “1660 scholarships” are allocated for students from public sector universities, while 637 scholarships are for federal universities which will be distributed among the students of private sector universities, a first in the country’s history.
In line with her vision to empower women, 60% of the scholarships have been reserved for girl students. “This is the real change the people of Punjab are witnessing,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz also announced the establishment of an “AI institution in Nawaz Sharif IT City Lahore”, aiming to provide students with education in cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
The Chief Minister expressed her optimism for the country’s future, stating, “These brilliant students will lead Pakistan to prosperity through their hard work. While our opponents resort to criticism, we are working for the people’s progress.”
