PM Shehbaz Launches Chromebook Scheme for 500,000 Students Across Pakistan
The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme will distribute refurbished Chromebooks and internet devices to students across Pakistan over two years, with the prime minister emphasising merit-based access to education and digital opportunities.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme, under which the government plans to provide 500,000 refurbished Chromebooks and internet devices to students nationwide over the next two years. The initiative aims to improve access to digital learning and ensure that students from different economic backgrounds can benefit from modern technology.
The launch ceremony took place in Islamabad, bringing together students from across Pakistan. On the occasion, the prime minister also handed over laptops and internet devices to high-achieving Grade 9 students and students studying at religious seminaries.
Addressing the gathering, Shehbaz said the country’s young population represented a valuable national resource. He stressed that financial circumstances should not prevent students from accessing quality education, digital tools and opportunities to develop their abilities.
The prime minister said the scheme was part of a wider effort to support talented young people and equip them with resources needed to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Government Targets Distribution of 500,000 Chromebooks
Shehbaz announced that the government intended to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks on merit within two years, expanding students’ access to digital devices at a nationwide level.
Comparing the initiative with an earlier government programme, he recalled that 600,000 laptops had been distributed to students over a decade under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.
He said the new scheme would accelerate the provision of digital equipment, with the planned distribution of 500,000 Chromebooks taking place over a considerably shorter period.
The prime minister also emphasised that students’ potential depended on their abilities and dedication rather than their financial circumstances. He called for equal opportunities that would allow young people to acquire knowledge, build skills and respond to emerging challenges.
Danish Schools Programme to Support Underprivileged Students
The prime minister also discussed the Danish Schools initiative, which aims to help deserving students continue their education by providing access to educational facilities alongside boarding and accommodation.
According to Shehbaz, construction is underway on at least 27 Danish schools across Pakistan. These institutions are intended to offer quality education and related facilities free of charge, particularly to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said such initiatives could help reduce financial barriers to education and give deserving students better opportunities to pursue their academic goals.
Rana Mashhood Highlights Digital Empowerment Efforts
Earlier, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said the Tokyo Technology Care Foundation had taken practical steps towards providing digital facilities to 500,000 students in Pakistan.
Mashhood said overseas Pakistanis were increasingly willing to contribute to the country’s development and expressed confidence in the government’s efforts. He also highlighted initiatives aimed at empowering young people and widening access to opportunities.
Discussing the Danish Schools programme, he noted its role in enabling deserving students to continue their studies and pursue improved educational and career prospects.
The PM Youth Chromebook Scheme is designed to broaden access to digital learning resources and internet connectivity, with the aim of helping students strengthen their educational capabilities and develop skills suited to a technology-focused future.
