Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif distributed laptops and Honhaar scholarships
among students at a ceremony held at COMSATS University in Attock on Tuesday. Students
from Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also received benefits through these education
programmes.

According to an official handout, students from KP thanked the Punjab government for including
them in the scholarship programme. They said the financial support helped them pay their
university semester fees. Some students had to pay fees of nearly Rs200,000.
During the ceremony, the chief minister distributed laptops and scholarship cheques among
deserving students. Students also presented her with portraits and sketches prepared by them.
A total of 6,161 laptops were distributed among students across the Rawalpindi division. These
laptops were given to students from different educational institutions. The distribution included
628 laptops for public universities and 257 for private universities. Medical colleges received
461 laptops while nursing colleges received 375.

Additionally, 17 laptops were provided to special education institutions. Another 423 laptops
were allocated to colleges working under the Higher Education Department.
The Honhaar Scholarship Programme also provided financial support to thousands of students.
A total of 2,590 scholarships worth Rs196.97 million were awarded across the Rawalpindi
division.

Public university students received 2,085 scholarships worth Rs170.21 million. Medical
universities and colleges received 314 scholarships worth Rs19.8 million. Another 191
scholarships worth Rs6.96 million were awarded to students in colleges under the Higher
Education Department.

The programme supports students studying in public and private universities. It also covers
federally chartered universities, BS colleges, special education institutions and medical and
dental colleges.

The chief minister has increased the laptop programme’s target from 40,000 to 112,000 laptops
for deserving students. So far, 48,292 laptops have been distributed among students in different
districts of Punjab.

Under the first three phases of the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, 108,000 students have
received financial assistance.

The ceremony was also attended by elected representatives, political leaders and party
ticket-holders. The chief minister met several political representatives during the event.
These initiatives aim to provide students with educational resources and financial support. They
also help students continue their studies and manage the cost of higher education.

Source: Official handout issued by the Punjab government

Razia khan