Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has announced that the government will reintroduce the laptop scheme this year as part of the Prime Minister Youth Program. During a press conference, the SAPM revealed that the scheme aims to provide 100,000 laptops to the youth.
Expressing regret over the discontinuation of this initiative by the previous government, she highlighted the significance of laptops in enabling young individuals to pursue their education and employment opportunities, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the laptop scheme, Shaza Fatima Khawaja mentioned that the government has also launched the National Innovation Award, which seeks to foster a startup culture among the youth.
Furthermore, the SAPM emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting healthy activities among young people, indicating a special focus on encouraging their participation in such initiatives.
In furtherance of these initiatives, she highlighted the active participation of approximately 54,000 children in various sports activities over the past year. She specifically mentioned the successful hockey trials conducted in twenty-five regions and volleyball trials in twenty-eight regions.
The SAPM further revealed that registration for football trials has commenced, inviting youth from all across Pakistan to take part in this exciting opportunity.
In February of this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made an announcement regarding the distribution of 100,000 laptops by the federal government. These laptops would be awarded to deserving and high-achieving youths across the country solely based on merit.
The Prime Minister noted that those who had previously criticized the laptop scheme should have recognized the vital role these laptops played in assisting the youth in sustaining themselves, particularly during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the distribution of cheques among the beneficiaries of the loan scheme and the launch of the Freelancer Card, the Prime Minister emphasized, “I am providing laptops, not Kalashnikovs,” highlighting the positive and empowering nature of this initiative.
