Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has distributed 6,161 laptops and Honhaar Scholarship cheques among students of the Rawalpindi Division at a ceremony held at COMSATS University in Attock. The CM distributes laptops Honhaar scholarship ceremony took place on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, and students from across the division, including students from Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were among the beneficiaries. The chief minister also announced that the laptop allocation for deserving students has been increased from 40,000 to 112,000, and that 48,292 laptops have already been distributed across Punjab.
The ceremony was part of the chief minister’s visit to Attock, during which she also inaugurated 127 development projects in the district, including 59 road schemes worth Rs23 billion. Addressing the students, she said no student should be forced to leave education because of financial difficulties, and she spoke in particular about students who have lost their fathers and those whose fathers work as daily wage labourers. The message from the stage was simple: hard work and talent should not be held back by a family’s income.
Point
Detail
Ceremony date
Tuesday, 3 November 2026
Venue
COMSATS University, Attock
Laptops distributed
6,161 (Rawalpindi Division)
Honhaar scholarships
2,590 worth Rs196.97 million
Laptop allocation
Raised from 40,000 to 112,000
Laptops given so far
48,292 across Punjab
Honhaar beneficiaries
108,000 students in first three phases
Other announcements
Honhaar scholarships for 3,600 KP students
What Happened at the Attock Ceremony
The ceremony at COMSATS University in Attock brought together students from different institutions across the Rawalpindi Division. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif handed over laptops and scholarship cheques to the selected students, and the students presented her with portraits and sketches they had prepared for the occasion. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the chief minister congratulated the recipients and urged students not to lose hope.
The event was not limited to Punjab students alone. Students from Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also present and benefited from the education support initiatives announced at the ceremony. The Punjab government also announced Honhaar scholarships for 3,600 students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, extending the programme beyond the province’s own students.
The same visit carried other announcements for students. The chief minister ordered transport facilities for the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) in Taxila and announced electric bikes for students, according to coverage of the visit. The Green Bus service was also inaugurated in Attock during the same trip, and the 127 development projects inaugurated on the day included 59 road construction and rehabilitation schemes worth Rs23 billion.
Venue: the ceremony was held at COMSATS University in Attock.
Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2026, during the chief minister’s visit to the district.
Who attended: students from institutions across the Rawalpindi Division, plus students from Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
What was given: 6,161 laptops and Honhaar Scholarship cheques worth Rs196.97 million.
Main message: financial problems should not stop any talented student from studying.
6,161 Laptops for Rawalpindi Division
A total of 6,161 laptops were distributed among students of the Rawalpindi Division at the Attock event. The laptops were shared across different types of institutions so that students in universities, medical colleges, nursing colleges and special education institutions all received devices. The largest share went to public universities, which received 4,628 laptops.
Private universities received 257 laptops, medical colleges received 461, nursing colleges received 375, special education institutions received 17, and colleges under the Higher Education Department received 423. Together, these figures add up to the full total of 6,161 laptops announced at the ceremony. Local coverage also reported that 133 students from District Attock itself received laptops at the event.
The laptops are intended to help students with their studies, online learning and research. For many students, a laptop is the difference between keeping up with coursework and falling behind, especially in subjects that need regular computer use. The distribution also supports the province’s wider push towards digital education, where students are expected to use online resources, submit work digitally and build computer skills alongside their degree.
Institution type
Laptops given
Public universities
4,628
Private universities
257
Medical colleges
461
Nursing colleges
375
Special education institutions
17
Higher Education Department colleges
423
Total
6,161
Honhaar Scholarships Worth Rs196.97 Million
Alongside the laptops, the chief minister distributed Honhaar Scholarship cheques at the ceremony. In the Rawalpindi Division, 2,590 scholarships worth Rs196.97 million were awarded to students. The largest part of this amount went to public university students, who received 2,085 scholarships worth Rs170.21 million.
Medical university and college students received 314 scholarships worth Rs19.8 million, while students of colleges under the Higher Education Department received 191 scholarships worth Rs6.96 million. The three parts together make up the full total of 2,590 scholarships and Rs196.97 million reported for the division.
The Honhaar Scholarship Programme is designed for students who face financial difficulty in continuing their education. The scholarship covers tuition costs so that students from low-income families can complete their degrees without the pressure of fees. At the ceremony, the chief minister said the government would provide every possible facility so that hardworking and talented students could continue their education.
Public universities: 2,085 scholarships worth Rs170.21 million.
Medical universities and colleges: 314 scholarships worth Rs19.8 million.
Higher Education Department colleges: 191 scholarships worth Rs6.96 million.
Total for the division: 2,590 scholarships worth Rs196.97 million.
What it covers: tuition costs for deserving students in higher education.
Laptop Scheme Grows: 40,000 to 112,000
One of the biggest announcements at the ceremony was the expansion of the laptop scheme itself. The chief minister said the number of laptops allocated for deserving students has been increased from 40,000 to 112,000. That is nearly three times the original allocation, and it means many more students across Punjab will receive a laptop in the coming rounds of distribution.
So far, 48,292 laptops have been distributed among students in different districts of Punjab. The Rawalpindi Division ceremony added 6,161 more to that total. Distribution ceremonies have been held in several divisions already, including Sahiwal and Mandi Bahauddin, and the schedule continues through the remaining divisions in October and November.
The increase in allocation shows that the programme has moved from a limited scheme to one of the province’s largest student support initiatives. Students who have not yet received a laptop should watch for the distribution schedule in their own division, because the expanded allocation means more names will be included in the coming rounds.
Honhaar Scholarship: 108,000 Students So Far
The Honhaar Scholarship Programme has now supported 108,000 students under its first, second and third phases. That figure was shared at the Attock ceremony and covers scholarships awarded across Punjab since the programme began. The programme is aimed at students in undergraduate degree programmes who need financial help to pay their tuition fees.
Phase 4 of the Honhaar Scholarship is currently open, with the last date to apply set for 19 November 2026. Students in the first to eighth semester of an undergraduate programme (BS and similar degrees) can apply, while MPhil, MS and PhD students are not eligible. Applications are submitted through the official Honhaar portal, and there is no application fee. Students need to maintain a 2.50 GPA each semester and a 3.00 CGPA, or 60 percent marks, to keep the scholarship in later semesters.
The extension of Honhaar scholarships to 3,600 students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a new development announced at the Attock ceremony. It follows the presence of Swabi students at the event and shows the programme reaching beyond Punjab’s borders for the first time. Students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who are interested should watch for the official announcement of how they can apply.
Scholarships so far: 108,000 students in the first three phases.
Phase 4 last date: 19 November 2026.
Who can apply: undergraduate students in their 1st to 8th semester.
Who cannot apply: MPhil, MS and PhD students.
New extension: 3,600 Honhaar scholarships announced for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa students.
What the Ceremony Means for Students
The Attock ceremony matters for students in two ways. First, it put laptops and scholarship money directly into the hands of thousands of students in one division, with a clear breakdown of who received what. Second, it confirmed that both programmes are growing: the laptop allocation has nearly tripled, and the Honhaar Scholarship is expanding to students outside Punjab as well.
For students who were not part of this ceremony, the practical point is to stay in touch with their own institution. Laptop distribution follows a division-wise schedule, and scholarship applications for Phase 4 close on 19 November 2026. Students should check with their university or college office about the distribution plan for their division and about the documents needed for the scholarship.
Parents should also note that both programmes are free. No fee is charged for a laptop or for a scholarship application, and no agent is needed to apply. Any person asking for money in exchange for a laptop or a scholarship place is not acting on behalf of the government, and the matter should be reported to the institution or the education authorities.
What Students Should Do Next
Students in the Rawalpindi Division who received a laptop or a cheque should keep their receipt and any documents given at the ceremony, because these may be needed for verification later. Students who are still waiting for their turn should confirm their selection status with their institution, since distribution lists are prepared by the universities and colleges themselves.
Students who want to apply for the Honhaar Scholarship in Phase 4 should complete their application on the official portal before 19 November 2026. The application needs correct academic details, and students should keep a copy of their submitted form. Those who have already applied should check the portal for updates on merit lists and verification.
Students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should wait for the official announcement about the 3,600 scholarships announced for their province. Until the procedure is published, no one should pay any person or agent for a place in the programme. Official announcements will come through the Punjab government and the Honhaar portal.
Recipients: keep ceremony receipts and documents safe for later verification.
Waiting students: check selection status with your university or college office.
Phase 4 applicants: apply on the official portal before 19 November 2026.
KP students: wait for the official procedure for the 3,600 announced scholarships.
Stay safe: pay no fee to anyone for a laptop or a scholarship.
Students and parents should use only the official channels below for the Honhaar Scholarship and the laptop scheme. No separate helpline number was published with the Attock ceremony, so the official portal and the student’s own institution are the first points of contact.
Distribution through universities and colleges, division-wise
First contact
Your university or college office
Fee
Free — no fee for a laptop or a scholarship application
Conclusion
The Attock ceremony delivered real support to students of the Rawalpindi Division: 6,161 laptops and 2,590 Honhaar scholarships worth Rs196.97 million, handed over by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif at COMSATS University on 3 November 2026. The bigger news is the growth of both programmes, with the laptop allocation raised from 40,000 to 112,000, 108,000 students already supported through Honhaar, and scholarships now announced for 3,600 students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Students should apply for Honhaar Phase 4 before 19 November 2026, check with their institution about laptop distribution in their division, and use only official channels for both programmes.
FAQs
How many laptops were distributed at the Attock ceremony? A total of 6,161 laptops were distributed among students of the Rawalpindi Division, including 4,628 for public universities, 257 for private universities, 461 for medical colleges, 375 for nursing colleges, 17 for special education institutions and 423 for colleges under the Higher Education Department.
How many Honhaar scholarships were given in the Rawalpindi Division? A total of 2,590 scholarships worth Rs196.97 million were awarded, including 2,085 for public university students, 314 for medical students and 191 for students of Higher Education Department colleges.
What is the last date to apply for Honhaar Scholarship Phase 4? The last date is 19 November 2026. Only undergraduate students in their 1st to 8th semester can apply, through the official portal honhaarscholarship.punjabhec.gov.pk.
Has the laptop allocation been increased? Yes. The chief minister announced at the ceremony that the allocation has been raised from 40,000 to 112,000 laptops, and 48,292 laptops have already been distributed across Punjab.
Were students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa included? Yes. Students from Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were among the beneficiaries at the ceremony, and Honhaar scholarships were announced for 3,600 students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
