Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a target to distribute laptops to students within 90 days. Under the Chief Minister’s Laptop and Merit Scholarship Program, students across Punjab will receive the latest Core i7, 13th-generation laptops.

The Chief Minister has instructed that laptops be provided to 2,000 minority students and top position holders from Matriculation and Intermediate (F.Sc) exams. Successful students will also receive a Guard of Honour.

Under this initiative, 20,000 university students, 14,000 college students, 4,000 students from industry and agriculture sectors, and 2,000 medical and dental students will receive laptops. Of these, 32% of the recipients will be from Southern Punjab. Under the Chief Minister’s Laptop Scheme, 5,000 laptops will be distributed within the next 30 days, and 35,000 laptops will be provided by February 20. Students from fields such as Computer Science, Medicine, Science, Engineering, Social Sciences, Business, Languages, Veterinary, and Agriculture will also receive laptops. Additionally, 30,000 students from public educational institutions and 10,000 from private institutions across Punjab will be awarded scholarships.

According to the briefing, under the Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship Program, 18,000 female students will be awarded scholarships, covering their full tuition fees for four to five years. A total of 68,329 applications were received for the merit scholarship, and the verification process for 34,290 applications has been completed. Public sector universities in Punjab have seen a 15.5% increase in enrollment beyond the set target.

In addition, the appointment of vice-chancellors has been completed at bulk sector universities, with the process ongoing at six others. One university position will be re-advertised.

Separately, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif met Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti to discuss overall political situation of the country along with matters of mutual interest and steps being undertaken for the promotion of inter-provincial harmony.

The CM Punjab while speaking on the occasion said, “People living in Balochistan are like our brothers. Terrorists want to impede development and progress of Balochistan. The progress of Balochistan is akin to development of Pakistan.” She added that the Punjab government will provide full assistance so as to solve the menace of terrorism. Mutual cooperation at the provincial level will be further promoted. The journey of development in Pakistan will continue by leaps and bounds. “We will work together to promote national unity and inter-provincial harmony,” she added. CM Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti said, “CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif is rendering exemplary services to the people of Punjab. We have to work together under a comprehensive strategy for the progress of our dear homeland and prosperity of its people.”

Moreover, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her message on World Children’s Day said, “Children are a special gift of Allah Almighty, there is nothing more beautiful in the world than their smile. It is our foremost responsibility to ensure provision of education, health and protection to the innocent children for their excellent and bright future.”