Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announces 500,000 Chromebooks for students over two years, aiming to expand digital learning and improve access to educational opportunities across Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced plans to distribute 500,000 Chromebook laptops to students across Pakistan over the next two years under the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme, aiming to expand access to digital education and equip young people with modern skills.
Speaking at the scheme’s launch ceremony in Islamabad on Sunday, Shehbaz emphasized that providing young people with access to technology was essential for improving educational opportunities and preparing them for future employment.
The prime minister described students as Pakistan’s most valuable asset and said supporting the country’s youth was a shared responsibility of the government and the state. He stressed that access to digital learning tools should be determined by merit and ability rather than financial circumstances.
Shehbaz expressed hope that the Chromebooks would enable students to continue their education remotely, access online learning resources and improve their prospects of securing employment.
Recalling previous initiatives launched under Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz governments, the prime minister said approximately 600,000 laptops had been distributed over the past decade. He contrasted that effort with the latest programme, which aims to provide 500,000 Chromebooks within two years.
He said poverty should not prevent talented students from developing their abilities, acquiring modern skills or pursuing further education. The initiative, he added, was intended to help young people prepare for professional opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The prime minister also reiterated that education must remain a government priority. Referring to the recent inauguration of a Daanish School in Islamabad, he said the state should mobilize its resources to ensure better educational opportunities for children across the country.
Students enrolled in religious seminaries will also be eligible for the Chromebook scheme, Shehbaz said. He noted that previous laptop distribution programmes had included seminary students alongside those studying at universities and colleges.
The announcement follows an earlier statement in August, when the prime minister said 250,000 high-achieving students would receive Chromebook laptops during the year as part of the government’s efforts to widen access to digital education.
Pakistan has also taken steps to develop its domestic technology sector. Last year, the country launched its first Google Chromebook assembly line, which officials described as a milestone in improving access to digital devices.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said at the time that the assembly facility could support job creation, strengthen supply chains and open opportunities for future technology exports.
The new scheme is expected to build on these efforts by giving students greater access to digital learning tools. Its stated target of 500,000 devices over two years places the programme among the government’s initiatives to support education, digital skills development and future employment prospects.
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