MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has distributed free laptops among the students of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) under the PM Youth Laptop scheme 2025, the PM Office said on Wednesday.
A special distribution ceremony was held at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) in Muzaffarabad, in which the premier distributed the laptops.
The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Faisal Rathore, Acting AJK President Latif Akbar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Amir Muqam, and Chairman PM Youth Programme Rana Mashood were also present during the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz congratulated everyone who got a laptop, adding that the laptops were not merely machines but a means to connect young people with the world, knowledge, and opportunity.
He cited success stories of students who, he said, had used earlier laptops to build careers and overcome social and economic barriers.
PM Shehbaz further reiterated that laptops had been distributed strictly on merit during previous programmes as well, rejecting criticism that such initiatives were political handouts.
“Kashmir is the land of great youth who have given unparalleled sacrifices, who have remained connected with Pakistan like a nation for the glory, prosperity, and development of Pakistan in the recent India-Pakistan war,” he added.
Moreover, the premier announced major education initiatives for AJK, including the approval of four Danish Schools, a planned tech-focused Daanish University, and the revival of the Prime Minister’s Education Endowment Fund.
In conclusion, PM Shehbaz said disciplined effort, unity, and belief were essential to making Pakistan strong and prosperous.
“Our youth are our future,” he said, expressing confidence that with opportunity and merit, they would take Pakistan and Kashmir forward on the world map.
In addition to that, AJK PM Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said the laptop programme and new education projects reflected the federal government’s trust in Kashmiri youth and would help them compete nationally and internationally. He said merit-based initiatives would strengthen confidence among students and parents alike.
Vice Chancellor UAJK Prof Dr Nasir Jamal Khattak welcomed the prime minister and said the university was proud to host a ceremony celebrating merit and academic achievement. He said access to technology would enhance research, innovation, and learning outcomes for students.
