The federal government’s initiative taken in 2014, under Prime Minister’s Scheme for Provision of laptops, was aimed at encouraging and supporting deserving students to digitalize the mode of studies in public sector universities, she said.

The scheme’s primary objective was to assist middle and lower middle class’s vulnerable talented students to use latest qualitative tools for their research in studies.

Research and Public Relation Officer Abdul Shakir informed that scheme was targeted to facilitate 100,000 students per year for which an amount of Rs. 5.1 billion and Rs. 21.3 billion for FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-2018 was earmarked respectively.

A single laptop costs Rs. 44,000 and some 200,000 more laptops would be distributed in next two years, taking the total figure to 500, 000, he added.

Regional Coordinator at Higher Education Commission (HEC), Qaim Ali Shah highlighting the salient feature of the scheme said it prioritized MS and PHD students as their studies involve research work.

The scheme earlier covering all provinces was extended trough HEC to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and FATA on the direction of Senate Standing Committee in T2014.  Recently Diploma Associate Engineers were also included in the scheme by the government, Qaim said.

Ishtiaq Khattk , a student of M. Phil, called the facility an educational boon for students going through their research in qualitative higher education.

The wireless broadband device being provided along with laptop was also useful as 20 GB in Rs 500 is more than enough for a student as compared to other internet packages being offered in the market.