Hunhaar Scholarship Punjab 2026 — Eligibility, Application & Renewal Guide
The Hunhaar Scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees for over 40,000 merit-based students enrolled in approved programs at public and selected private universities across Punjab, according to the CM Special Monitoring Unit at smu.punjab.gov.pk. To qualify, your family’s monthly income must be below Rs. 3 lakh, your CGPA must meet the minimum for your discipline, and you must hold a Punjab domicile. The scholarship is paid directly to your institution — you pay nothing upfront and claim nothing back. This guide covers every eligibility requirement, the application process, the renewal process, and what to do if your application is rejected.
Last Updated: May 2026
What Is the Hunhaar Scholarship?
The Hunhaar Scholarship — Hunhaar meaning “talented” — is a merit-cum-need-based program run by the Punjab government through the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) at honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk. It pays 100% of the tuition fee directly to the institution on the student’s behalf. The student does not receive any cash — the payment goes from PHEC to the university or college account.
Phase 1 awarded 30,000 scholarships to first-semester students. Phase 2 expanded to students from 3rd to 8th semester and increased the total to over 40,000 awards in 2026, according to Punjab government figures. The program now also includes selected private universities and covers disciplines in AI, Data Science, Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, Health Sciences, and other priority fields alongside traditional programs.
The scholarship does not cover hostel fees, meal plans, transportation, books, or any other cost beyond tuition. Plan for those separately.
Who Is Eligible for the Hunhaar Scholarship?
You must meet every condition below. Each is checked against official databases — there is no way to apply if you do not meet them all.
Domicile
You must hold a valid Punjab domicile certificate issued from any district of Punjab. Students from other provinces are not eligible in the standard phases. A limited quota of seats in some phases has been reserved for inter-provincial applicants at specific institutions — check the current phase announcement at honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk for details.
Family Income
Your family’s total monthly income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 3 lakh. You must provide a notarised income affidavit on stamped paper signed by a relevant authority. This affidavit is submitted at application and may be re-verified at renewal. Providing a false affidavit is a criminal offense under the program’s terms and results in permanent disqualification.
Enrollment
You must be enrolled from 3rd to 8th semester of a BS program, or from 2nd to 5th year of an MBBS or BDS program, at an institution approved by PHEC. Fresh first-semester students apply during the separate Phase 1 intake window — this is announced separately each year.
Minimum CGPA or Marks
The minimum academic performance required varies by institution type and discipline, according to the official Hunhaar Scholarship criteria at smu.punjab.gov.pk:
- Public sector universities — Science disciplines: 70% CGPA or equivalent
- Public sector universities — Arts disciplines: 65% CGPA or equivalent
- Medical and dental colleges: 60% in annual examinations
Your CGPA is verified against your institution’s database. You cannot self-report a CGPA above what your university has on file.
Approved Disciplines
You must be enrolled in one of the approximately 70 approved disciplines on the PHEC list. Priority disciplines include Computer Science, AI and Data Science, Robotics, Engineering, Health Sciences, Business, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Pharmacy, and Nursing. The full approved discipline list is updated each intake cycle on honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk.
Required Documents
Prepare all of these before starting your application. Incomplete documents result in automatic rejection during the verification phase.
- Valid CNIC
- Punjab domicile certificate — original scan
- Notarised income affidavit on stamped paper declaring total family monthly income from all sources
- Current enrollment certificate from your institution
- Latest academic transcript showing CGPA or marks percentage
- Admission letter or proof of enrollment in the current semester
- Active mobile number registered under your own CNIC
How to Apply — Step by Step
Registration is fully online. No hard copy is required. No office visit.
- Go to honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk.
- Click Sign Up — register a new account using your CNIC and mobile number.
- Verify your mobile number with the OTP sent by SMS.
- Fill in your personal details — name exactly as on CNIC, father’s name, home district, domicile district.
- Select your institution from the dropdown — only approved institutions appear. If your institution is not visible, contact the PHEC help desk before submitting.
- Enter your program name, current semester, and CGPA or marks percentage.
- Upload your Punjab domicile certificate, notarised income affidavit, transcript, and enrollment certificate — each document clearly scanned.
- Review all entries carefully before submitting — you cannot edit after submission in most intake windows.
- Submit and note your application reference number.
Your application dashboard shows the current status: Submitted, Under Review, Selected, or Award Announced. You receive an SMS at each status change.
How to Renew Your Hunhaar Scholarship Each Semester
The scholarship does not renew automatically. You must log in at honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk at the start of each semester and submit a renewal request.
Renewal requires:
- Your CGPA must still meet the minimum for your discipline — if it has dropped below the threshold, your scholarship is suspended until you bring it back up.
- An updated income affidavit if your family’s financial situation has changed.
- Current enrollment confirmation for the new semester.
Log in, go to your dashboard, and click the Renewal option. Follow the prompts and upload the required updated documents. Renewals that are submitted late risk a gap in scholarship payment for that semester.
What to Do When Something Goes Wrong
Application Was Rejected — Income Affidavit Issue
If your rejection reason cites the income affidavit, check two things: whether the affidavit was notarised on proper stamped paper and whether the total stated income is accurate. The system automatically rejects applications where the declared income exceeds Rs. 3 lakh. If you believe the affidavit was rejected in error, use the grievance portal on honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk and upload a corrected affidavit with supporting documentation — bank statements, salary slips, or a fresh notarised affidavit.
Your Institution Is Not in the Dropdown
Contact the PHEC help desk through honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk before applying. Your institution may not yet be approved for the current phase. Do not apply using a different institution’s name — this is treated as fraud. If your institution is approved in a later phase, apply then.
CGPA Dropped Below the Minimum — Scholarship Suspended
Focus on the current semester’s results. Once your CGPA returns to the minimum, log in and apply for reinstatement through the portal. One semester below the threshold does not permanently disqualify you from the program — the reinstatement process exists for this situation.
Scholarship Payment Did Not Reach Your Institution
Contact your university’s financial aid or accounts department first — payment goes from PHEC to the institution, not to your personal account. If the institution confirms they have not received payment, report it through honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk using your application reference number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hunhaar Scholarship cover students at private universities?
Yes, but only at selected private universities that appear on the approved institution list at honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk. Not every private institution is included. The list is updated each intake cycle — confirm your institution is listed before applying.
What is the income limit for the Hunhaar Scholarship?
The family’s total monthly income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 3 lakh, according to the official eligibility criteria at smu.punjab.gov.pk. This includes income from all earning members of the household. A notarised affidavit on stamped paper is mandatory — verbal declarations are not accepted.
Does the Hunhaar Scholarship cover hostel fees and meals?
No. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees only. Hostel fees, meal plans, transportation, books, and other ancillary costs remain your responsibility. The scholarship does not disburse any cash — payment goes directly from PHEC to your institution.
Can I hold the Hunhaar Scholarship and the CM Laptop Scheme at the same time?
Yes. The two are separate programs. Receiving the Hunhaar Scholarship does not affect your eligibility for the CM Punjab Laptop Scheme and vice versa. Apply for both if you meet each scheme’s criteria.
When does the next Hunhaar Scholarship intake open?
The main new student intake typically opens between July and October each year. The 2026–27 cycle is expected to open in mid-2026. Bookmark honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk and check weekly. Renewal windows for continuing students open at the start of each semester — February and September approximately.
