Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government will distribute 100,000 free laptops to high-achieving students across Pakistan, pledging a fully transparent and merit-based selection process. Addressing an event in Islamabad marking International Youth Day, the premier said the initiative would cover students from all provinces, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to equip the next generation with technology for education and innovation.
“Our government is committed to transparency and meritocracy, and we will ensure these principles guide the distribution,” Shehbaz said, stressing that only academic performance would determine eligibility. He urged the youth to display the same resilience and patriotism seen in Pakistan’s history, particularly during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, to lead the country toward progress.
The Prime Minister also extended Independence Day greetings, acknowledging the contributions of minorities and all societal segments to the nation’s development.
Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the PM Youth Programme, traced the roots of such initiatives to 2011, when Shehbaz Sharif, then Punjab Chief Minister, launched youth-friendly schemes including laptops, scholarships, and soft loans. He noted that the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund had now evolved into the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, benefitting students nationwide.
Related: PM Launches Digital Youth Hub to Empower Pakistan’s Youth
While the announcement has been welcomed as a step toward empowering students and fostering a technology-driven education system, critics argue that similar past schemes often faced issues of political favoritism, delayed deliveries, and inadequate follow-up. If the government can truly uphold its commitment to merit and transparency, the programme could become a meaningful investment in Pakistan’s youth rather than another short-lived political headline.