ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that 100,000 laptops will be provided free of charge to meritorious students nationwide, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
Speaking at an event in Islamabad commemorating International Youth Day, the Prime Minister emphasized that the laptops would be awarded solely based on academic excellence, without favoritism. “This government is committed to transparency and meritocracy, and we will uphold these principles during the distribution,” he stated.
The initiative aims to benefit students across all four provinces, along with the federal capital, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s triumph on May 10 against a numerically superior and boastful adversary, which reinvigorated national pride. He called on youth to harness this spirit of resilience and aim for excellence to elevate the country’s stature.
Reaffirming his administration’s focus on youth empowerment through education and technology, PM Shehbaz underscored that Pakistan’s future depends on its young generation. He also extended greetings on Independence Day and commended the contributions of minorities and various societal segments in Pakistan’s development.
Rana Mashhood Khan, Chairman of the PM Youth Programme, recalled that Pakistan’s first youth policy was introduced in 2011 by then–Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This initiative provided laptops, soft loans, and scholarships to talented students in Punjab. He further explained that the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF), which was also launched during Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, has expanded into the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, serving students across the country. “Every child in Pakistan should have access to education and opportunities,” he stated.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the next phase of the Honhaar Scholarship Programme. On X (formerly Twitter), she informed that the application portal for the new scholarship cycle is now open, encouraging students to apply confidently and wholeheartedly. “My dear students of Punjab, your aspirations are the future of our province,” she wrote. “Thanks to the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, 80,000 young minds have already been supported — with 50,000 receiving scholarships and 30,000 more in progress, paving the way for many more to benefit.”
