Punjab Student Scholarships & Stipend Programs 2026: Eligibility Guide

Hassan Ali

Hassan Ali

Updated September 19, 2026

Pakistani students reviewing Punjab scholarship and stipend programs for 2026

Punjab students looking for financial help in 2026 do not have one single scholarship or stipend program to apply for. Different departments run separate schemes for students based on merit, family income, education level, minority status, government-employee parentage and other conditions.

As of 19 September 2026, important options include the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF), Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship, Punjab Zakat Educational Stipends, Punjab Benevolent Fund Educational Scholarships and Educational Scholarships for Religious Minorities.

Here is the important part: a scholarship can still exist even when its current application window is closed. Always check the latest status before submitting documents or relying on an old social media post.

Punjab Scholarships and Stipends Available in 2026

ProgramMainly ForEducation LevelCurrent Position
PEEF ScholarshipsTalented and financially deserving students and special-quota categoriesIntermediate, graduation and other levels depending on schemePEEF remains active; 2025–26 Special Quota registration is closed
Honhaar ScholarshipEligible undergraduate studentsUndergraduateProgram active; existing phases continue
Punjab Zakat Educational StipendPoor and deserving Muslim studentsIntermediate to postgraduate/professional studiesProgram listed by Punjab Zakat Department
Punjab Benevolent Fund ScholarshipChildren of regular Punjab government employeesSchool to university/professional educationApplications invited annually
Minority Educational ScholarshipEligible students from religious minorities in PunjabMatric to PhD/professional education2025–26 application deadline has passed

There is no universal Punjab scholarship application form covering all these schemes. Each program has its own authority, eligibility rules and application process.

Which Scholarship Should You Check?

Your best option depends more on your situation than on the name of the scholarship.

If you have recently passed Matric and are entering Intermediate, PEEF may be relevant, particularly if you meet the merit, income or special-quota requirements.

If you are studying for an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution, check the Honhaar Scholarship and any PEEF or university financial-aid opportunities available to your batch.

If your family has serious financial difficulties and you study at a recognized college, university or professional institution, the Punjab Zakat Educational Stipend may be worth checking.

Children of regular Punjab government employees should also look at the Punjab Benevolent Fund Educational Scholarship, which is a separate scheme from PEEF.

Students belonging to religious minority communities can check the Punjab Minority Educational Scholarship when a new application cycle opens.

The right approach is to check every scheme for which you genuinely meet the conditions rather than assuming that one application covers everything.

PEEF Scholarships for Punjab Students

The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, commonly called PEEF, provides scholarships for talented students who need financial support. Punjab’s Higher Education Department lists PEEF among its scholarship initiatives, while PEEF operates separate categories and application processes.

PEEF should not be understood as one permanently open online form. Different scholarship categories can have different selection methods and schedules.

For example, the official Special Quota Scholarship 2025–26 covered students belonging to specified categories such as:

  • orphan students;
  • students with disabilities;
  • children of government employees in BPS 1 to 4;
  • children of civilians killed in terrorist attacks;
  • students belonging to minority religions; and
  • children of divorced or khula-obtaining mothers.

For that particular 2025–26 scheme, applicants had to have obtained at least 60% marks in the 2025 annual Matric or Intermediate examination, among other conditions. The official registration page now clearly shows that cycle as Closed.

Pakword already has a separate detailed guide covering PEEF eligibility, so students who specifically need PEEF information can use that guide rather than treating this broader Punjab scholarship list as a substitute.

Is There a PEEF Scholarship for Matric Students in 2026?

Yes, a student who has passed Matric may qualify for PEEF assistance for further studies, but this does not mean every student currently studying Matric can simply submit a general PEEF application.

This distinction causes a lot of confusion.

The official 2025–26 Special Quota cycle included eligible students who had passed their 2025 Matric examination and were moving to the next educational level. It required at least 60% marks for that particular scheme.

So if you have completed Matric, check which PEEF category applies to you and whether a new application or nomination cycle is open.

Do not rely on a website that simply changes 2025 into 2026 while repeating old eligibility rules.

How Do I Check My PEEF Scholarship?

If you have already been selected or nominated for PEEF, use the official PEEF student system or contact your educational institution for your scholarship information.

Students may need information such as their PEEF code or academic/board details, depending on the search option available in the student system.

If you do not know your PEEF code, first check any scholarship communication received from your institution or PEEF. Your college or university scholarship office can also help identify the correct record.

Avoid paying an agent to check your scholarship. PEEF-related verification should be done through PEEF or your educational institution.

Honhaar Scholarship Program in 2026

The Honhaar Scholarship Program is a major Punjab higher-education scholarship scheme aimed at supporting eligible undergraduate students.

The Punjab Higher Education Department states that the program was designed to provide 30,000 scholarships annually across 68 disciplines, with 120,000 students expected to benefit during the first four years.

Honhaar is not merely an old announcement. Universities were still processing Honhaar awardees during 2026.

For example, Government College University Faisalabad issued instructions in February 2026 for students already receiving scholarships under Phases I, II and III.

The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences also published multiple 2026 notices concerning Honhaar Phase III, scholarship installments, awardees and related documentation.

What should a new applicant understand from this?

The Honhaar program is active, but an active scholarship program is not the same thing as saying a fresh Punjab application round is open today.

Application windows can change by phase, batch and institution. Before filling any form, check the current Honhaar portal and your university’s Student Financial Aid Office.

Who Can Qualify for Honhaar?

Eligibility has changed during different rounds, so old Facebook graphics and copied articles can be misleading.

The Punjab Higher Education Department previously published minimum academic criteria including:

  • at least 80% for public-sector medical and dental colleges;
  • at least 70% in sciences and 65% in arts and social sciences for federal and private universities; and
  • at least 70% in sciences and 65% in arts and social sciences for public-sector universities.

Those criteria were published as a revision in October 2024 and should not automatically be treated as the rules for every later phase.

For a 2026 application, check the eligibility shown for the specific current Honhaar phase before deciding that you qualify.

Punjab Zakat Educational Stipend

The Punjab Zakat & Ushr Department runs an Educational Stipend (General) for poor and deserving students studying in recognized colleges, universities, polytechnic institutes and other educational or professional institutions in Punjab.

This program works differently from an online merit scholarship.

The student’s Istehqaq, or eligibility for Zakat assistance, is determined through the Local Zakat & Ushr Committee and endorsed by the scholarship committee of the educational institution. The student applies through the head of the institution.

The department currently lists these annual stipend rates:

Education LevelAnnual Stipend
IntermediateRs.10,000
BS, Graduate or PostgraduateRs.15,000
Engineering, Medical or Computer ScienceRs.20,000

This means you normally do not search for a public online registration portal and submit the form directly yourself. Start with your college or university administration or scholarship office.

The department’s FAQ also says Educational Stipends (General) are meant for poor and needy students at college or university level and applications are processed through the student’s institution.

Important distinction for technical students

The Zakat Department separately labels its Technical Educational Stipends as discontinued for the current financial year on its English program page. Students should therefore not confuse that program with the general educational stipend described above.

Punjab Benevolent Fund Educational Scholarship

If your mother or father is a regular Punjab government employee, check the Punjab Benevolent Fund scholarship separately.

The Provincial Benevolent Fund Board says children of regular Punjab government employees are eligible for its educational scholarship, and applications are invited in January each calendar year.

The required documents listed by the Board include items such as:

  • prescribed application form;
  • Detailed Marks Certificate;
  • CNIC of the government employee/student/applicant;
  • pay slip for a serving employee; or
  • PPO for a retired employee.

Scholarship rates differ according to the employee category and the student’s education level. A separate Rs.50,000 special scholarship is listed for children securing 90% or more marks in Matriculation or a higher examination.

This scholarship is therefore useful for a very specific group. A student whose parent is not an eligible Punjab government employee should look at other programs instead.

Scholarships for Minority Students in Punjab

Punjab also has a dedicated Educational Scholarship for Religious Minorities.

For the 2025–26 cycle, the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department listed 1,192 scholarships for students from religious minority communities studying in public educational institutions in Punjab.

The published scholarship amounts were:

Study LevelScholarship
MatricRs.30,000
IntermediateRs.40,000
BachelorRs.60,000
PostgraduateRs.70,000
Professional educationRs.100,000

The same official portal states that applicants had to belong to a recognized religious minority in Punjab, have Punjab domicile and satisfy the other merit, enrollment and income requirements for that cycle.

The application deadline for the 2025–26 cycle was January 20, 2026, so students visiting this guide in September 2026 should not treat that old deadline as an active application window.

Watch for the next official announcement instead.

Is There One Punjab Scholarship Portal?

No. Punjab students should not expect one website to handle every scholarship and educational stipend.

PEEF has its own system. Honhaar uses its own scholarship process. Zakat stipends are generally processed through educational institutions and Zakat committees. Punjab Benevolent Fund has another application system, while minority scholarships are handled through the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department.

This is why searching only for Punjab scholarship online apply can be confusing.

First identify the program for which you may qualify. Then use that program’s official department, portal or institution.

Scholarships Are Not the Same as All Punjab Government Schemes

Students also search for the latest schemes launched by the Punjab government in 2026. That is a much broader topic.

Government schemes can include laptops, transport, skills programs, loans, social assistance and other initiatives that are not scholarships.

For example, the Punjab Higher Education Department currently lists Honhaar along with initiatives such as student laptops, transport programs, admissions systems and other higher-education projects.

This page focuses specifically on education scholarships and student stipends, not every Punjab government scheme.

Before You Apply for a Scholarship

A few checks can save you from wasting time or sending personal documents to the wrong website.

Check the exact academic year. A 2025–26 scholarship notice may not apply to a student entering the 2026–27 session.

Look for the application status. Active program and applications open are two different things.

Read the education-level requirement. A scholarship for undergraduate students will not automatically cover Matric or Intermediate students.

Check domicile and institution conditions. Some schemes require Punjab domicile, enrollment in particular types of institutions or both.

Verify income rules from the current notice. Do not use a figure copied from an old scholarship year.

Use the official authority. Pakword explains the process, but it is an independent information website and does not approve scholarships or receive applications.

Be careful with agents and unofficial WhatsApp links. Do not pay someone merely to tell you that they can guarantee a government scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What scholarships are available for Punjab students in 2026?

Major options include PEEF scholarships, the Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship, Punjab Zakat Educational Stipends, Punjab Benevolent Fund Educational Scholarships and scholarships for religious minority students. Eligibility and application status vary by program.

Is there a PEEF scholarship for Matric students in 2026?

Students who have passed Matric may qualify for PEEF assistance for further education when they meet the requirements of an applicable PEEF scheme. The official 2025–26 Special Quota cycle included eligible students who passed the 2025 Matric examination, but that registration cycle is now closed.

How do I check my PEEF scholarship?

Use the official PEEF student system and information supplied by your educational institution. If you do not know your scholarship details or PEEF code, contact the scholarship office at your college or university rather than relying on an unofficial checker.

Is the Honhaar Scholarship available in 2026?

Yes. Honhaar continues to operate and universities were handling scholarship phases and awardees during 2026. However, students should check the current Honhaar portal for a new application window rather than assuming registration is permanently open.

Can Matric students get a Punjab minority scholarship?

The 2025–26 Punjab minority scholarship program included Matric-level students, with an official scholarship amount of Rs.30,000 for that level. The deadline for that cycle was January 20, 2026, so students now need to watch for the next application announcement.

Can I receive two scholarships at the same time?

Do not assume you can. Scholarship rules differ, and some programs restrict students who are already receiving other financial assistance. Check the conditions of both scholarships before accepting or applying for another award.

What Punjab Students Should Do Next

Start by matching your situation with the correct program.

If you have passed Matric, check the latest PEEF cycle and any special category that applies to you. Undergraduate students should monitor Honhaar, PEEF and their university’s own financial-aid office. Financially deserving students can ask their institution about the Punjab Zakat Educational Stipend. Children of Punjab government employees should check the Benevolent Fund, while minority students should watch for the next HR&MA Punjab scholarship announcement.

Most importantly, look at the current application status and academic year before sending documents. A scholarship page that still exists online does not necessarily mean applications are open today.

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