LAHORE: (Friday, October 4, 2024): On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab Minister for Higher Education Rana Sikandar Hayat Khan has inaugurated Pakistan’s largest scholarship program for the financial assistance of talented students in Punjab. In this regard, a launching ceremony was organized at Punjab University in which PU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali, Secretary Higher Education Dr Farrukh Naveed, Punjab Higher Education Commission Chief Operating Officer Dr Mansoor Ahmed Baloch, faculty members and a number of students were present. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Hayat said Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Program is the largest scholarship program in the history of Pakistan under which the fee of 30 thousand intelligent students of public and private universities will benefit from the scheme. The minister said that the fee of the four-year BS degree program of the intelligent students will be paid every year on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and every year new students will also be included in the scholarship scheme. He said that the eligibility criteria regarding family income range has been set with the monthly income of Rs 300,000 to support upper middle class families in the scholarship program. He said that students of government medical colleges will also be included in this scheme. He said that students will be given scholarships in 67 disciplines which are in high demand worldwide. He said that the Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Program will help in producing the best human resource. He said that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has launched a number of initiatives for the welfare of the youth. He said that the Chief Minister will soon distribute 40 thousand laptops among the intelligent students of Punjab. He said that the students of PU have got a very competent Vice Chancellor. PU VC Dr Muhammad Ali said that Honhaar Scholarship Program is a revolution in the field of higher education. He said that the meritorious scholarship program will produce skilled and quality graduates in various fields. He said that the scholarship program will strengthen higher education sector in the province. On this occasion, the Minister also spoke to the students and answered the questions related to the scholarship scheme.