PTBP Web Desk
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the distribution of 100,000 free laptops among talented students across Pakistan, promising a purely merit-based selection process. The announcement was made on Tuesday at an International Youth Day event in Islamabad, where the premier emphasized the importance of empowering young people with tools for education and innovation.
The initiative will cover all four provinces, the federal capital Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. PM Shehbaz assured students that the laptop distribution will be completely free from nepotism or political bias.
The Prime Minister clarified that this free laptop scheme is separate from the government’s interest-based laptop loan program. “These laptops will be an additional facility to support our brilliant students,” he said.
Recalling Pakistan’s success in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, PM Shehbaz highlighted the country’s victory on May 10 against a “numerically large and vainglorious enemy.” He urged students to channel the same determination and unity into excelling academically and professionally.
“National progress depends on our youth. Equip yourself with education, technology, and skills so you can contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s future,” the premier stated.
Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, praised the government’s ongoing merit-based initiatives, which have enabled thousands of deserving students to pursue their dreams. He mentioned several landmark projects, including the Pakistan Education Endowment Scheme, Pakistan Daanish Authority, and the earlier Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme.
Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kesoo Mal Khael Das also addressed the gathering. He stressed the valuable contributions of Pakistan’s minority communities to the nation’s development, pledging their continued role in economic and social progress.
The laptop initiative has a proven track record of transforming students’ academic lives. One example is Waqas Arain, a Mass Communication student at the University of Sindh in 2014, who received a Haier laptop with an internet device and adapter under the PML-N government’s scheme launched by former PM Nawaz Sharif.
Waqas recalled applying through a dedicated online portal and receiving his laptop within six to seven months. Ten students from his class met the GPA eligibility criteria and benefited from the program. “It greatly helped us in research and assignments, especially at a time when internet access was not as common,” he shared.
Laptop Scheme by the Numbers
Since its inception, the PM Youth Programme has distributed nearly 600,000 laptops nationwide, with strict adherence to merit:
- Male students: 334,556
- Female students: 265,444
In 2024 alone, 100,000 laptops were distributed:
- Females: 58,000
- Males: 42,000
Provincial and regional breakdown:
- Punjab: 247,389 laptops
- Sindh: 107,034 laptops
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 76,094 laptops
- Balochistan: 30,513 laptops
- Federal Capital: 112,270 laptops
- Former FATA region: 9,290 laptops
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir: 14,312 laptops
The laptop scheme is part of the government’s broader vision for a Digital Pakistan, aiming to improve access to technology and bridge the digital divide. By ensuring merit-based distribution, the initiative seeks to motivate students to achieve higher academic standards while preparing them for the competitive global market.
The Prime Minister encouraged students to take full advantage of this opportunity, noting that the knowledge economy is the future. “The laptops are not just machines; they are gateways to learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” he remarked.
