On International Youth Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood before a crowd in Islamabad with a clear message: Pakistan’s future lies in the hands of its youth — and those hands should be equipped with the right tools.

Announcing the distribution of 100,000 free laptops, he emphasized that this opportunity will be awarded strictly on merit. “This government believes in transparency and merit, and we will ensure both in the distribution process,” he declared.

The programme will cover every region — from the bustling streets of Karachi to the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan — ensuring no deserving student is left behind.

The initiative draws on Shehbaz Sharif’s track record. As Punjab’s Chief Minister in 2011, he introduced the province’s first youth policy, bringing laptops, loans, and scholarships to thousands. That legacy has evolved into the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, now benefiting students nationwide.

Chairman Rana Mashhood Khan highlighted that this fund ensures every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education.

The laptop scheme arrives alongside other youth-focused projects, including the recently expanded Honhaar Scholarship Programme, led by Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, which has already supported 80,000 students.

Referring to Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, PM Shehbaz linked the spirit of victory to the need for intellectual growth, urging young Pakistanis to channel that same determination into education and innovation.