According to media reports, the Pakistani government has decided to relaunch the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme and distribute 100,000 laptops worth Rs. 10.827 billion across the country.
The Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme (Phase-III) was initially approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting on June 29, 2022, for Rs. 8,000 million; however, the scope of the project has been expanded, resulting in a cost increase of Rs. 2,827.28 million, according to official documents seen by media men.
According to the documents, the number of laptops has been increased from the approved 74,700 to 100,000, and the project cost has been revised upward to Rs. 10827.28 million in response to a directive from Pakistan’s Prime Minister.
The documents further revealed that foreign funding would fund a significant portion of the project. The Foreign Exchange Component of the project is Rs. 9,890 million of the total project cost of Rs. 10,827.28 million, with PSDP providing the remaining Rs. 937.280 million. According to the documents, one laptop will cost $460.
The Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme’s (Phase-III) revised PC-I has been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal.
The government had previously launched the PM Nationwide Laptops Scheme Phases (I & II) in 2013. It was launched in 2013 under the Prime Minister’s Youth Schemes for five years, with 500,000 laptops procured and distributed in two phases (I & II).
Moreover, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has been tasked with carrying out the scheme and developing a criterion/mechanism for laptop distribution under this scheme.
The project is intended to give young and talented students studying in public sector higher education institutes (HEIs) across the country and Azad Jammu and Kashmir a chance. The project will run for two years.