ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme, under which the government will distribute 500,000 Chromebook laptops to talented students across the country.
The Prime Minister, while addressing the ceremony at the Convention Centre, said that the laptops will be distributed among students purely on basis of merit. A bag and a MiFi device are also being provided along with each Chromebook, he said, adding that the scheme will enable students to continue their education through digital learning.
“Our boys and girls are the true assets of Pakistan,” he said, adding that it was his duty and the state’s “collective responsibility” to provide the youth with modern technology so they could become “the great builders of Pakistan.” He said that the Chromebooks were being distributed based on the youth’s hard work, ability, and talent.”
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He said that this scheme will help students attend school remotely and use e-libraries at home. These modern devices will help students develop their abilities and distinguish themselves through their talent and academic achievements, he said.
The Prime Minister said that the facility was also available to students of religious seminaries. Sharif said that previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) governments had distributed 600,000 laptops to students across the country on the basis of merit. Those 600,000 laptops were distributed over a span of 10 years, he said, adding that the now 500,000 Chromebooks will be distributed within just two years.
He said that the government is also expanding the network of Daanish Schools to provide quality education, modern facilities, and a state of the art learning environment to deserving students. Currently, 27 Daanish schools are under construction across the country, and these schools will have modern equipment and facilities, he said.
These Chromebook laptops will help students gain further education, and in the future, these devices will help them secure employment, he said, adding that it was the responsibility of every government to support children in becoming responsible and capable citizens.
Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that the laptops distributed to students during that period had helped them continue their education remotely.
The Prime Minister thanked overseas Pakistani Rashid Minhas, founder of the Tokyo Care Foundation, for supporting the scheme. The Prime Minister distributed Chromebooks to students on the occasion.
Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui while speaking on the occasion said that the government is taking concrete measures to align the country’s education system with changing global trends. The investment in education directly builds the economy and secures the nation’s future, he said.
He said that Pakistan’s youth population of one hundred and fifty million is not a liability but an invaluable asset that can be transformed into a major driver of national development.
The minister said the provision of 500,000 Chromebooks by the Tokyo Care Foundation as an important step towards expanding digital access among students.
“On the prime minister’s directives, internet connectivity was also being provided along with laptops. Eeach MiFi connection could support five additional students, potentially extending the programme’s benefits to a total of 2.5 million children”, he said.
Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan announced that along with Chromebooks, the government will provide high-speed internet connections to five hundred thousand students.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026