LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has formally inaugurated the Chief Minister Laptop and Gifted Scholarship Program, aiming to distribute laptops to students across Punjab within 90 days. The initiative, launched in Lahore, is set to provide the latest Core i7, 13th generation laptops to students, with a phased distribution plan involving 5,000 laptops in the first 30 days and an additional 35,000 laptops by February 20.
According to Chief Minister of Punjab, the program targets a diverse group of students, including 20,000 university students, 14,000 college students, 4,000 technical and agriculture college students, and 2,000 medical and dental college students. Notably, 32% of the laptops will be allocated to students from South Punjab. The initiative also includes a Guard of Honor for successful students, enhancing the recognition of academic excellence.
The program extends its benefits to minority students, with a specific allocation of laptops for 2,000 students. Matriculation and FSC position holders will also receive laptops under the scheme. In addition to the laptop distribution, scholarships will be awarded to students from 30,000 government and 10,000 private educational institutions across the province. The Chief Minister Honorable Scholarship Program, which has received 68,329 applications, will provide full tuition fee coverage for selected students for four to five years. Verification of 34,290 applications has been completed.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance educational outcomes in Punjab, which includes a reported 15.5% increase in enrollment in public sector universities beyond the target. The appointment process for Vice-Chancellors in public sector universities is ongoing, with 18 appointments made and six in progress. The vacancy at one university will be re-advertised.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif acknowledged the contributions of Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, Secretary Higher Education Dr. Farrukh Naveed, and their team in ensuring the program’s transparency and effectiveness.