In a major policy expansion, the Punjab government has approved the inclusion of private university students in its flagship laptop distribution scheme for the first time. The move aims to bridge the digital divide between students in public and private higher education institutions.
Officials from the Higher Education Department (HED) confirmed that the initiative will launch with an initial phase of distributing 10,000 laptops to eligible private university students. Work on this expansion is already underway.
The eligibility criteria for the scheme will remain consistent. Students must be enrolled in a private institution within Punjab and possess a strong academic record, specifically a minimum of 70% marks or its equivalent CGPA in their last examination. Students who have previously received a laptop under earlier phases of the scheme are not eligible to reapply.
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To promote equitable access, the scheme will maintain its reserved quotas for female students, students with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds. Authorities state that these measures are designed to ensure fair distribution and provide critical digital tools to those who need them most. All applicants will be assessed under the same merit-based rules.