Punjab CM Maryam approves ‘Honahar Merit Scholarship’ programme for students

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz approved ‘Punjab Honahar Merit Scholarship’ Program, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

In a meeting regarding education reforms, the Chief Minister instructed to increase the number of scholarships from 4 thousand to 25 thousand.

The Chief Minister said that full fee of the students doing BS from government and 8 selected private universities will be paid from the scholarship.

The Chief Minister also gave approval of establishment of new universities in Jhelum, Wahari and Rabhaulingar.

The Chief Minister also directed to start the laptop scheme immediately. The Chief Minister has expressed happiness over the free classes of MDCAT and ECAT in 90 colleges of Punjab.

It was decided in the meeting to introduce new disciplines in colleges with less number of students and disciplines linked to the needs of the job market will be introduced.

It also was decided to introduce online portal system for appointment of Divisional Directors and Principals.

A foolproof system will be introduced to appoint Divisional Directors and Principals purely on merit.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a plan for providing new buses to government colleges was presented.

The meeting also reviewed recommendations for establishment of universities under private public partnership.

The meeting was agreed to facilitate the private sector to establish universities at the government level.

It was decided to establish a high-level ministry committee to review the affairs of private universities.

The meeting also decided to establish Punjab Board Coordination Commission for reforms in the affairs of education boards.

Secretary Higher Education Dr. Farrukh Naveed gave a briefing in the meeting.

Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Finance Secretary, Principal Secretary and other officials were present in the meeting.