Scholarship programme for inter, BS (Hons) students.

LAHORE -- The Punjab government on Monday launched 'Rehmatul-Lil-Alameen (PBUH) Scholarship Programme' for 14,891 bright and underprivileged students of the province.

Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar inaugurated the scholarship programme's website in a ceremony held at his office. Higher education minister Raja Yassir Hamayun Sarfraz, special education minister Muhammad Ikhlaq, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, higher education secretary Nadeem Mehboob and others were also present.

Under the programme, as many as 14,891 intermediate and BS (Hons) students will be given scholarships worth Rs417 million, and the amount will be expanded to Rs1 billion in the upcoming budget.

To qualify for the scholarship, the students must have secured at least 60 per cent marks in Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams from any public sector school and then got admission in a government college within two years. The students availing any other scholarship are not eligible for the programme.

Merit-cum-need-based funding to be increased to Rs1bn

For the need-based applicants, the income of their household should be less than or equal to Rs 25,000 per month, and the parents must not own more than five acres of agricultural land or five-marla urban property. Out of 50pc of the need-based scholarships, 10pc quota will be reserved for the children of government employees.

Under the merit-based applicants criteria, the students must have the highest score in their respective district. The merit of candidacy will be determined by the district of the candidate, and not where they intend...