PM announces 1m smartphones for youth

Shehbaz says top-performing students to receive phones, tablets and laptops

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday pledged to allocate ample resources to the nation's youth to help transform the country into a thriving, developed nation.

Speaking at an event marking the International Day of Youth, organized by the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, the premier recalled his service as the chief minister of Punjab under the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif.

He stated that this year, the federal government will provide one million smartphones, tablets, and laptops to top-performing students across the country, including those from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and remote areas of Balochistan. Additionally, each province has its separate programmes to support students, he added.

He aimed to provide opportunities for the youth to change the country's destiny as prime minister, PM Shehbaz said.

"The country's youth have the potential to elevate the nation to new heights, if given access to modern education and resources," he added.

The prime minister expressed his vision of equipping talented youth with modern education, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence to spark a revolution in the country, similar to the progress seen in China. He highlighted his previous efforts in providing modern facilities to students at Danish Schools.

The premier lamented that, despite having abundant resources and 77 years of independence, the country remains heavily burdened by debt. He noted that extreme poverty prevents many from affording basic needs, such as arranging marriages for their daughters, while the country's elite class enjoys significant privileges.

He stated that this year, the federal government will provide one million smartphones, tablets, and laptops to top-performing students across the country, including those from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and remote areas of Balochistan. Additionally, each province has its separate programmes to support students, he added.

Additionally, the prime minister announced that he would personally fund the education of 1,000 agricultural graduates in China, aiming to equip them with modern technology to boost agri production. Huawei has also committed to sending 200,000 youth for IT training and advanced education, he said adding that he will unveil a comprehensive development plan for the country on August 14.

The prime minister noted that nothing was impossible in this world and emphasized the need to progress by learning from past mistakes. He underscored the commitment to revive the country's.

Praising Arshad Nadeem, he noted that the javelin thrower had won a gold medal for the country after a drought of over 40 years.

At the beginning of the event, the prime minister officially launched several key initiatives, including the Commonwealth Youth Alliance Secretariat in Islamabad, the Digital Learning Portal, the PM Green Youth Movement, and the AI for Youth Programme, which offers Intel-certified skills to young people. Other initiatives included Smart Youth, Smart Pakistan, and the distribution of one million tablets and mobile phones to high-achieving intermediate students. He also announced the registration of the National Volunteer Corps.

Later, the prime minister presented awards to successful young entrepreneurs.

 

Welfare of Balochistan

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with a delegation led by President National Party Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and discussed the overall political situation in Balochistan province.

Senator Jan Muhammad Jamali and member National Assembly Pullain Baloch were part of the delegation.

 

During the meeting, the prime minister said welfare and well-being of the people of Balochistan was the top priority of the government, adding steps were being taken to provide equal opportunities of employment to youth of Balochistan.

 

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch thanked the prime minister for solarization of agriculture tube wells in Balochistan.

 

He said the solarization of agriculture tube wells fulfilled a longstanding demand of farmers of Balochistan and such steps were a positive step towards the development and prosperity of Balochistan.