The Honhaar Scholarship is a Punjab government stipend for high-achieving students from low-income families — it covers tuition and provides a monthly living allowance, paid directly to the student's bank account each semester.
Verify Honhaar Scholarship Eligibility Before Applying
The Honhaar Scholarship Programme provides monthly stipends to high-performing students from low-income families in Punjab. Two conditions must both be met:
Academic performance: Minimum 70% marks in Matric and Intermediate (or equivalent) for undergraduate applicants. For postgraduate, a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0 in the undergraduate degree is typically required. The exact threshold can vary by scheme phase — always check the current announcement on the Punjab IT Board or PHEC portal.
Household income: The family's annual income must be below the poverty threshold defined for the current scheme phase. This is typically verified against BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme) or Ehsaas registration, or through an income certificate from the relevant tehsildar office.
Students already receiving another government scholarship can't simultaneously receive Honhaar — you must choose one or withdraw from the other.
Gather Required Documents Before Starting the Application
Have these ready before opening the portal — the form times out and you'll lose your progress if you've to hunt for documents mid-application:
- Your CNIC (original and photocopy)
- Parent/guardian CNIC
- Matric and Intermediate result cards or degree certificate (scanned copies)
- Current institution enrollment certificate (issued by your registrar)
- Bank account details (your own account number — stipend is deposited directly)
- Income certificate from tehsildar / BISP registration proof
- Domicile certificate (Punjab domicile)
- Recent passport-size photograph
| Document | Format | Why Needed |
|---|---|---|
| CNIC / B-Form | Clear scan, both sides | Identity verification |
| Last exam result / marksheet | Original or attested scan | Merit verification |
| Enrollment certificate | Current semester — from institution | Active student confirmation |
| Bank account details | Account number + IBAN | Scholarship disbursement |
| Family income certificate | From Union Council or Patwari | Income eligibility |
| Domicile certificate | Punjab domicile | Residency requirement |
| Passport photograph | Recent, white background | Application record |
Submit the Application on the Official Portal
Go to honhaarscholarship.com or the Punjab IT Board's scholarship portal. Click "Apply Now" and select the programme level (Undergraduate or Postgraduate). Complete the registration with your CNIC and mobile number, verify via OTP, and log in.
Fill in all sections carefully: personal details, academic history, income details, bank account information. Upload scanned copies of all required documents — the portal accepts JPG, PNG, and PDF formats under 2 MB each. Review every field on the summary page, then click Final Submit. You receive an application reference number by SMS — keep it.
One critical field: the bank account must be in your own name, not your parents'. Scholarships are disbursed directly to the student's registered account. If you don't have your own bank account yet, open one before applying — most Pakistani banks offer zero-balance student accounts.
Track Your Application and Respond to Verification Requests
Track your Honhaar application at the same portal using your CNIC or reference number. Statuses to expect: Submitted → Under Review → Verification Required → Approved → Disbursement Initiated.
"Verification Required" means the PHEC or Punjab IT Board team has a query — typically about income documentation or academic record discrepancies. Log in and respond within the deadline shown — unanswered verification requests lead to automatic rejection.
Once approved, the monthly stipend begins with the next disbursement cycle and continues for the remaining duration of your programme, subject to annual renewal. The renewal requires proof that you maintained the minimum CGPA and continued enrollment — this is automatically checked against PHEC's enrolled student database at renewal time.
Application and Eligibility Problems
You need either a BISP registration confirmation or a tehsildar-issued income certificate below the scheme's threshold. Obtain the appropriate document and resubmit — the portal allows document reupload before final submission.
If you're currently receiving another government scholarship, you must formally withdraw from it before your Honhaar application can be approved. Contact the other scholarship's administering body for the withdrawal process.
The account must be in your own name and at a Pakistani commercial bank. Some mobile wallet accounts aren't accepted. If rejected, open a standard savings account at HBL, MCB, UBL, or Meezan Bank with your CNIC and try again.
Log in to the portal and check your application dashboard — the reference number is always visible there even if the SMS was delayed. Take a screenshot of the dashboard showing your reference number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Honhaar stipend amounts vary by programme level and are revised periodically. Typical ranges: Rs. 2,000–4,000/month for undergraduate students and Rs. 5,000–8,000/month for postgraduate students. Check the current phase announcement on honhaarscholarship.com for the exact stipend amount.
Honhaar Scholarship covers both public and some private sector institutions, unlike the Laptop Scheme. Private institution students registered with HEC are eligible provided they meet the academic and income criteria. Check the eligible institutions list on the scholarship portal.
The Honhaar stipend is a general-purpose monthly payment — there's no specific restriction on how students use it. It's intended to support living expenses so students from low-income families can focus on studies rather than working part-time.
The scholarship is conditional on maintaining minimum academic standing. Annual renewal checks your CGPA. If it drops below the minimum at the annual review, the scholarship is suspended — you can apply for reinstatement once the CGPA is restored.
Student scholarships in Pakistan are generally exempt from income tax. However, if you're confused about your specific tax situation, a consultation with an FBR-registered tax advisor is the definitive answer.