The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has launched the Chief Minister’s Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Program for 2025, in partnership with various universities including the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). This initiative, which began its second phase, aims to provide financial assistance to high-achieving students from Punjab who face financial constraints.
The scholarship offers full funding for students to pursue undergraduate degrees at some of Pakistan’s top educational institutions. The program’s scope is not limited to a single university, extending to over 50 public sector universities, 16 medical colleges, and 131 graduate colleges across Punjab. Additionally, it includes private institutions like LUMS, the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), COMSATS University, and Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI).
Eligibility criteria require applicants to hold a domicile from any district in Punjab and have a monthly family income below Rs. 300,000. Students must be enrolled in selected disciplines at designated universities for the fall 2025 session. The scholarship is also open to students currently in their third to eighth semesters of BS programs and those in their second to fifth year of MBBS and BDS programs.
For new applicants, the selection process is merit-based. According to information from UET Lahore, the final selection will be made based on a weighting system: 30 percent for Matric marks and 70 percent for Intermediate marks.
The number of scholarships is substantial. The first phase of the program awarded 30,000 scholarships, while Phase II is set to provide 20,000 scholarships to students enrolled in higher semesters. A third phase will offer 5,000 scholarships to students from other provinces. The total approved cost of the program is Rs. 5,868.05 million.
The deadline for application is September 15, 2025. Students can apply online through the official PHEC scholarship portal at https://honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk.
Citing a statement on the LUMS Financial Aid website, the university and PHEC have “joined hands to launch the Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship” to support “high-achieving students, enabling them to pursue undergraduate studies at LUMS without the financial burden.” This partnership, the statement adds, “reaffirms its commitment to creating opportunities for talented youth across Pakistan, nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators.”
Official announcement:
Sources:
- UET Lahore News and Announcements
- LUMS Financial Aid Office
- CM Special Monitoring Unit, Government of Punjab
- Fatima Jinnah Women University News & Events
- University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences News & Events
