Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has unveiled the Chief Minister Laptop and Honhar Scholarship Program, a transformative initiative aimed at rewarding academic excellence and improving education accessibility across Punjab.
Core i7 Laptops for Top Performers
The program will distribute 35,000 Core i7, 13th-generation laptops to high-achieving students by February 20, 2025, with 5,000 laptops being awarded in the first 30 days. Recipients include:
- Matriculation and FSC position holders
- 20,000 university students
- 14,000 college students
- 4,000 industry and agriculture students
- 2,000 medical and dental students
Notably, 2,000 minority students and 32% of recipients from South Punjab will benefit.
Scholarships for Students Across Punjab
Under the Honhar Scholarship Program, scholarships will be offered to students from 30,000 government and 10,000 private institutions. Key highlights include:
- 18,000 female students to receive scholarships.
- Full tuition fees for 4 to 5 years covered.
- Over 68,329 applications received, with 34,290 verified to date.
Higher Education Reforms and Internship Programs
The Punjab government has also completed one of the province’s largest higher education internship programs, hiring 7,354 college teacher interns on merit. Key details:
- Interns will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000 for eight months.
- Teaching services will continue until the academic session ends on March 31.
In addition, 962 college teachers were transferred under the e-transfer policy, ensuring transparency through an online portal. Appointments for principals and directors will also follow strict merit criteria.
A Vision for Transparent and Merit-Based Reforms
During a briefing, Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Farrukh Naveed highlighted the government’s efforts to uphold merit and transparency in education. The Chief Minister praised the higher education team for their dedication, emphasizing the government’s focus on providing quality education and fair opportunities.
Looking Ahead
With laptops, scholarships, and internships, Punjab’s education initiatives under CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif are set to empower thousands of students and teachers, paving the way for a brighter future.
