The Punjab government has announced a schedule for distributing free laptops and Honhaar Scholarships to students across the province.
According to Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, the distribution process will take place during October and November 2026.
Students from all nine divisions of Punjab are expected to benefit from the programme.
The minister shared the announcement through a social media post, describing it as good news for students waiting to receive laptops and scholarships.
First distribution ceremony on October 15
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif will distribute laptops and scholarships at a special ceremony at the University of Sahiwal on October 15.
Students from Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan districts will be included in the first distribution event.
Rana Sikandar Hayat said similar events would be organised in the remaining divisions over the following weeks.
The government plans to complete the distribution process across all nine divisions within the announced period.
However, the minister has not yet shared the exact number of laptops or scholarships to be awarded at each ceremony.
Detailed dates and venues for the remaining divisions are also awaited.
Eligibility for laptops and scholarships
The Honhaar Scholarship Programme is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible students pursuing higher education in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Laptop Scheme aims to help students access technology for academic work, research and online learning.
Those already selected under the relevant schemes should follow updates from their educational institutions and official programme portals.
Further divisional announcements are expected in the coming weeks, for students awaiting their awards.
Private schools new academic year
Earlier, most private schools in Punjab decided to begin the new academic year a month earlier, in December, as Ramzan is expected to fall in early February.
The new academic session in most private schools across the province is scheduled to commence on December 1.
According to sources, the early start is also expected to benefit publishers financially, as it will enable them to sell their existing stocks of books based on the current syllabus. Sources said all syllabus books would be replaced from the beginning of the new academic year, with books for the revised curriculum expected to reach the market by March or April.