Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) expects from its students across the country to ensure positive use of new communication technology in their educational pursuits. This was stated by AIOU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ziaul Qayyum while addressing a ceremony held for distribution of laptops to their 200 students of MPhil and PhD. The students were awarded laptops under phase IV and V of the government’s scheme, giving them access to new technology in their educational pursuits. This is the recognition of their talents and commitment to education, AIOU VC Professor Dr Ziaul Qayyum while congratulating the recipients. He hoped they will utilise their abilities to serve the nation, so as to pay-back what were being invested on them. He urged the youth to ensure positive and constructive use of the new communication facility. “It should help them to achieve excellence in their educational field and to ultimately serve the country in a best possible way,” he said. He asserted that education should be made beneficial for the society and with this spirit, he added, the students should carry forward their research-based activities, through best use of laptops and other tools of communication. According to Director Students’ Advisory & Counseling Services Rana Tariq Javed, the distribution of the laptops, took place according to the merit-criteria laid down by the Higher Education Commission. A transparent mechanism was adopted while implementing the scheme. As many as 2,500 MPhil and PhD students of the university have already received the laptops on country-wide basis, with the internet communication device. The ceremony was attended among others by AIOU Sciences Department Dean Dr Syed Zafar Ilyas, AIOU Regional Services Director Dr Inamullah Sheikh and the university’s registrar Dr Muhammad Zaigham Qadeer. Published in Daily Times, December 16th 2018.