PM extends laptop scheme till June 2026

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has extended the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme until June 2026.

The scheme was earlier approved only till 2025, but the government decided to continue it due to high demand and the rising need for digital access in education. So far, the government has distributed around 600000 laptops in three phases. Last month, authorities announced another batch of 100,000 laptops, which are being allocated to students across universities and degree-awarding institutes in the country. The scheme’s estimated cost in the original PC-I document was around Rs16 billion.

According to the latest data, Punjab received the highest share in the new distribution cycle, with 30862 students selected. Balochistan followed with 18000 laptops, Sindh with 16006, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 14440. Students in the Federal Capital secured 12877 laptops, while 2088 students in AJK and 727 in Gilgit-Baltistan were selected.

A separate quota of 5,000 laptops was allocated for Allama Iqbal Open University students due to its nationwide distance-learning system. These laptops were distributed during a special ceremony held under Phase IV of the scheme. Under the eligibility criteria, students enrolled in public-sector universities in BS (4-year), MS/MPhil, and PhD programs could apply for one laptop based on academic merit verified through the HEC online system. Officials said the extension of the program shows the government’s commitment to supporting digital learning and improving students’ access to essential tools.

An HEC official explained that many students cannot afford laptops, especially when online classes, research, and academic projects require constant digital access. He added that earlier delays in Phase IV were caused by administrative issues and transportation challenges, which have now been resolved.