ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced that 100,000 laptops will be distributed free of cost among outstanding students across Pakistan purely on merit, with no room for favouritism or political influence
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad to mark International Youth Day, the prime minister said the initiative would cover students from all four provinces, the federal capital, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He clarified that this scheme is separate from the government’s laptop provision through interest-based loans.
Touching upon the recent Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, Mr. Sharif said Pakistan’s victory on May 10 over a “numerically larger and arrogant enemy” had infused fresh energy into the nation. He urged the country’s youth to channel that spirit into academic and professional excellence, bringing pride to Pakistan on global platforms.
Earlier, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, told the gathering that the government’s merit-based initiatives had transformed the lives of thousands of talented yet underprivileged students. He highlighted flagship projects such as the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, the Pakistan Daanish Schools initiative, and previous phases of the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme, which have helped many complete their education.
Also addressing the event, Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Kesoo Mal Kheel Das, said Pakistan’s minority communities had always played a constructive role in the nation’s progress and would continue to do so.
