Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced a significant increase in cash rewards for matriculation position holders, raising the prize from Rs20,000 to Rs100,000, alongside free laptops for top-performing students.
The announcement came as the minister officially released the 2026 annual matric examination results for all Punjab education boards simultaneously through an online system.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rana Sikandar Hayat said that publishing the results of all education boards at the same time reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to transparency and fulfils the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
He said position holders will now receive Rs100,000 in cash as well as laptops in recognition of their academic achievements.
The minister also announced a series of digital reforms aimed at modernising Punjab’s examination system. For the first time, advanced technology has been used in the preparation of examination results, allowing students to access verified online result cards instead of relying on printed copies.
Students from private schools will also be able to download their verified result cards through their institutions’ online portals, with no additional verification required.
To improve student services, the Punjab government has also introduced an AI-powered chatbot, enabling students to obtain examination-related information instantly.
Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government is rapidly digitising all education boards across the province. From next year, a fully digital screen-marking system will be introduced to improve the quality and transparency of paper checking, while the centralised marking system will be further strengthened.
He added that students will also be able to recheck their examination papers using QR codes, a move aimed at increasing transparency in the assessment process.
The minister further claimed that no complaints of examination centres being sold were received this year and said the government had eliminated 95 per cent of the cheating mafia across the province. He also noted a significant increase in student enrolment at public universities.