Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz officially launched Pakistan’s largest-ever Honhaar Scholarship Programme on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward enhancing educational opportunities for students across the country. The event, held at the prestigious Punjab University, saw the Chief Minister distributing scholarship cheques to deserving students, inaugurating an e-portal, and announcing foreign scholarship initiatives. At the ceremony, the Chief Minister launched an e-portal that will simplify the management of scholarships for students. The e-portal will enable students to track their scholarship status and access necessary resources efficiently. This digital initiative is set to streamline the scholarship application and distribution process, further enhancing the accessibility and transparency of the programme.
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The Punjab government’s key initiative, the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, empowers students by providing merit-based scholarships to individuals from both public and private universities. Maryam Nawaz revealed during her address that the Honhaar Scholarship Programme has already awarded 30,000 scholarships, with a notable 32% of recipients hailing from South Punjab. In a groundbreaking move, 18,000 of these scholarships have been granted to female students, underscoring the programme’s commitment to gender equality.
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In her speech, Nawaz emphasized that the scholarships would be awarded solely on merit, with no political influence or discrimination involved. She also announced that the government would fully fund the education of students who gain admission to foreign universities, reinforcing the provincial government’s commitment to providing quality education on a global scale. “This is not just a scholarship programme; it’s the beginning of a new era of development and opportunity for our youth. Empowering students with knowledge is the best investment we can make for a brighter future,” she stated.
Furthermore, Maryam Nawaz unveiled plans for an internship programme within government departments. Each internship will offer a stipend of Rs60,000 per month, providing young graduates with valuable work experience and financial support. To further assist young entrepreneurs, she also pledged to offer loans of up to Rs1 crore to graduates wishing to establish their businesses. Reflecting on the importance of youth in the country’s development, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern for those who have been misled into violence or destructive paths. “Youth represent the true face of Pakistan. It breaks my heart to see our young generation straying from the right path. I urge all students to dedicate themselves to education and contribute to the progress of our nation,” she remarked.
In a symbolic gesture of recognition, a smart police contingent presented a guard of honor to the scholarship recipients, celebrating their hard work and dedication to education. Nawaz, addressing the students, spoke with maternal warmth: “Today, I am not here as Chief Minister, but as a mother. I consider every child in Punjab as my own. This scholarship marks the beginning of a bright future for them,” she said. In her vision for the future, the Chief Minister pledged to ensure that financial constraints would not deprive any student in Punjab of education. “I consider the education of every child my responsibility, even more than their parents,” she declared. The government highlighted the implementation of the Honhaar Scholarship Programme within just nine months as a testament to its commitment to the educational sector.
In related news, Maryam Nawaz praised the vital role of financial institutions in the country’s economic development in her speech on the International Day of Banks. She praised the contributions of Punjab Bank and stressed the importance of a transparent financial system for economic stability. The ceremony concluded with the chief minister expressing her condolences over the death of Admiral Yastur-ul-Haq Malik, paying tribute to his professional services, and extending heartfelt sympathy to his family. Through this landmark initiative, Maryam Nawaz’s government has reaffirmed its dedication to uplifting Pakistan’s youth, providing them with the tools and resources to succeed and build a prosperous future for the nation.
