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Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has officially relaunched Punjab’s laptop distribution initiative, reviving a scheme after eight years to empower high-achieving students with modern tech tools.
The announcement came during a special event held at Lahore’s historic University of Engineering and Technology (UET), where the first batch of laptops was handed over directly to students.
Launch Event Held at UET, Lahore
The scheme will provide 13th-generation Core i7 laptops to top-performing students, not just from Punjab but across Pakistan. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Minister personally interacted with students rather than delivering a speech from the stage, emphasizing her hands-on approach to governance.
Additionally, Maryam Nawaz kicked off Phase II of the “Honahar Scholarship” programme. This phase is designed to offer PKR 20,000 in financial support to students currently enrolled in their second to fifth academic year or third to eighth semesters.
In the Lahore Division alone, over 3,121 students from 27 public colleges, six medical colleges, and multiple universities will collectively benefit from scholarships worth more than PKR 120 million.
More than 14,000 students in Lahore Division are expected to receive laptops. These devices will be distributed across 13 public universities, six medical colleges, and 27 higher education institutions.
Special Quota for Students Across Pakistan
To ensure accessibility, an online registration portal has been developed for students from all provinces. Though Punjab will receive the largest allocation, specific quotas have been set for other regions as well:
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 3,136 laptops
- Balochistan – 938 laptops
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir – 517 laptops
- Gilgit-Baltistan – 410 laptops
The ceremony also featured a guard of honour for students. A special documentary was screened, highlighting the impact of the laptop and scholarship programmes. Adding to the patriotic atmosphere, UET students performed national songs.
In her closing remarks, Maryam Nawaz voiced strong faith in Pakistan’s youth, stating:
“When Pakistan’s youth say ‘Qadam Qadam Abaad Rahe,’ then Inshallah, this land shall forever thrive.”
