Laptop scheme: LHC seeks Punjab govt’s reply

Earlier, Abbas submitted that the Punjab government was “misusing” public funds to promote its political agenda.


April 19, 2012

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the Punjab government and others on a petition that has asked for a judicial inquiry into the government scheme to distribute free laptops to the top students in public sector colleges. Justice Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan passed the order in a petition filed by Mian Shahid Abbas. The judge asked the court office to fix a date for the hearing. Earlier, Abbas submitted that the Punjab government was “misusing” public funds to promote its political agenda. He said that the government was spending a large amount on advertising the campaign as well. He also objected to the usage of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s photograph in the ads because “he does not hold public office”. The petitioner also alleged that the scheme had caused a loss of Rs 1.7 billion to the national exchequer. “The Punjab government violated the Punjab Procurement Rules 2009 while awarding tenders for laptops”, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Iftekhar | 11 years ago | Reply

As a whole, the exercise of laptop grants points to a much bigger issue, which is lack of understanding on the part of political elite to identify and prioritize social / economic solutions rather than giving in to the temptation of photo sessions. Isn’t it ridiculous that in a country where millions of kids are out of school because of lack of resources, limited govt. resources are being spent on giving laptops to students who can already afford reasonable education? Laptop is NOT a necessity, education for every kid of the nation is!

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