ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday formally inaugurated the fourth phase of the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme 2025 in a ceremony held at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad.
Addressing a ceremony, the premier stated that over 100,000 laptops have been distributed purely on merit since 2011, with an investment of Rs 40–50 billion.
He added that Rs 500 billion is being allocated for youth education, skills, and empowerment, calling it “an investment in the nation’s destiny.
The prime minister declared that “today marks a historic day in Pakistan’s journey of youth empowerment.”
He emphasized that the scheme is a continuation of his vision launched in 2010 as Chief Minister of Punjab to promote education, fine arts, culture, sports, and information technology.
Prime Minister Sharif revealed that his government is collaborating with Saudi Arabia to provide advanced training in Artificial Intelligence, IT, and modern trades.
Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s consistent dedication to the youth, saying that “the PM Youth Laptop Scheme is not merely a project, it is a movement to transform Pakistan into a knowledge-based economy.”
He added, “The laptops have become instruments of change; they are connecting our youth from remote regions of Balochistan, FATA, and Gilgit-Baltistan to the world of knowledge and innovation.”
The event also featured testimonies from students who benefited from previous phases of the laptop scheme, showcasing its profound impact across the country.
Zakirullah from Balochistan, a PhD scholar at the International Islamic University Islamabad, shared that “the laptop was not just a device but a bridge to global knowledge. It empowered me to teach Tafseer and Quran using modern digital tools. It changed my life and my students’ lives.”
Muhammad Rafique Afridi from FATA University, son of a martyred police officer, shared his story with emotion, “I received the laptop on merit, and today I work as a credit officer in a bank. This programme gave me dignity, opportunity, and hope. I dedicate my success to my late father and my motherland.”
Samia and Ayesha Zia, twin sisters from UET Taxila, echoed that the laptop scheme is “not a gift, but a pathway to innovation and the world of technology.”
