The initiative aims to expand access to digital learning tools for students across Punjab. The Higher Education Department confirmed that distribution of free laptops will begin in September, with merit as the top priority. The official schedule for the second phase has already been prepared.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will inaugurate the scheme’s second phase in the first or second week of September.
In the first phase, only Lahore’s students benefited when 14,000 laptops were distributed. However, the second phase has been expanded so that more deserving and talented students across the province can gain access to this facility.
It is important to note that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also announced the provision of 100,000 free laptops nationwide for brilliant students on a merit basis.
While addressing a ceremony on International Youth Day, the Prime Minister said that laptops will be distributed fairly across all four provinces, the federal capital, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir. He clarified that these free laptops are separate from the laptop loan schemes based on interest-bearing loans.
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The announcement of the second phase of the Punjab laptop scheme has generated excitement among students. With the first phase benefiting only Lahore, the expansion across Punjab now opens opportunities for thousands of young learners who lacked digital access.
Maryam Nawaz’s leadership in launching the provincial phase and Shehbaz Sharif’s promise of 100,000 laptops nationwide signal a clear political push toward digital empowerment. The emphasis on merit ensures that only deserving and high-achieving students benefit, making the scheme both competitive and motivational.
In a country where many students struggle with limited digital resources, these laptops can transform educational outcomes, bridge technology gaps, and support youth in preparing for a global digital economy. The move not only addresses educational needs but also strengthens political goodwill among young voters who see technology as a gateway to opportunity.
