LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting, which reviewed the progress on procurement of laptops for talented students of the province. Giving approval to purchase 150,000 laptops during the current financial year, the chief minister said that process of procurement of laptops should be completed at the earliest and laptops of latest model should be purchased for the students. He said that programme of distribution of laptops on merit is an important step towards empowering the youth, adding that the government has already distributed thousands of laptops at a cost of billions so far. Shahbaz told the officials concerned that no delay would be tolerated in the procurement of laptops, adding that matters should be completed immediately in a transparent manner. “With the distribution of laptops, youth of the country is being harmonized with latest demands of present age. It is also helping them become aware of new inventions and changing situation throughout the world,” he added. The chief minister said that provision of resources for empowering the youth is a useful investment and Punjab government would provide all out resources for the programmes pertaining to youth awareness and modern knowledge. He use of information technology is need of the hour that is why effective steps have been taken for the promotion of IT in the province. “Empowering youth by equipping them with modern knowledge is our mission,” he added. The CM said that the programme of distribution of laptops among youth on merit is yielding positive results, adding that education is the only way through which trends of extremism can be eliminated from the society. The Punjab government has taken revolutionary steps for the promotion of quality education and modern knowledge, he claimed, adding that IT labs have been set up a cost of billions of rupees in the schools, while more than 150,000 talented students from resource-less families are studying in prestigious educational institutions through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said that the steps taken by Punjab government for the promotion of education are becoming a source of reducing the gulf between the poor and the rich. Provincial Higher Education Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz along with chief secretary, planning and development chairman, higher education secretary and concerned officials were present on the occasion.