Govt to re-launch laptop scheme for university students

Planning Minister approves Rs10b budget for scheme to provide 100,000 students with laptops

ISLAMABAD:

The government has decided to once again launch a laptop scheme for university students, with a budget of Rs10 billion.

This was stated by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal while addressing an event in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The minister said under this scheme, one hundred thousand laptops will be provided to the students on merit to digitally empower them.

Read Uplift funds, default risk both rise

Ahsan said the National Bank of Pakistan has also been asked to develop laptop leasing products so that every university student has access to an affordable laptop.

The minister said that given the size of the young population, Pakistan can turn Information technology into one of its competitive advantages.

Pakistan, which has about 60% of its 220 million population in the 15- 29 age group, represents an enormous human and knowledge capital. Currently, the country has more than 2,000 IT companies and call centres and the number is growing every year.